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THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 

W.  L.  Long 


CB 
J77a 


/- 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

00031717143 

This  book  must  not 
be  token  from  the 
Library  building. 


Form  No.  471 


Life  of 
John  Paul  Jones 

By 
JOHN  S.  C.  ABBOTT 


New  York 

Dodd,  Mead  and  Company 

Publishers 


Copyright,  1874, 

BY 

DODD    &    MEAD 
CoPVRiGHff,    1904-1916 

BY 

LAURA  ABBOT    BUCK 


PRINTED    IN    U.    S.    A. 


TO 

THE  OFFICERS  AND  SEAMEN  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  NAVY 

THIS   VOLUME, 

COMMBMOKATIVE    OF   THE    HEROIC   ACHIEVEMENTS   OF   ONE    OF  THB   MOST 

ILLUSTRIOUS  OF  THEIR    NUMBER,   15   KSSPEc  ii'uLL* 

DEDICATED   BY 

JOHN  S.  C.  ABBOTT. 
Fair  Havhn,  Conn.,  1874. 


APPENDIX. 

SUMMARY    OF    THE    ENTIRE    VOYAGE, 

COMPILED    FROM    THE    LOG-BOOK. 


i 


4 


PREFACE. 


I  COMMENCED  writing  the  Life  of  Paul  Jones  with 
the  impression,  received  from  early  reading,  that 
he  was  a  reckless  adventurer,  incapable  of  fear,  and 
whose  chief  merit  consisted  in  performing  deeds  of 
desperate  daring.  But  I  rise  from  the  careful  exam- 
ination of  what  he  has  written,  said,  and  done,  with 
the  conviction  that  I  had  misjudged  his  character. 
I  now  regard  him  as  one  of  the  purest  and  most 
enhghtened  of  patriots,  and  one  of  the  noblest  of 
men.  His  name  should  be  enrolled  upon  the  same 
scroll  with  those  of  his  intimate  friends,  Washing- 
ton, Jefferson,  Franklin  and  Lafayette. 

As  this  exhibition  of  the  character  of  Admiral 
Jones  is  somewhat  different  from  that  which  has 
been  presented  in  current  literature,  I  have  felt  the 
necessity  of  sustaining  the  narrative  by  the  most 
unquestionable  documentary  evidence.     Should  any 


n  PRkFACE. 

one,  in  glancing  over  the  pages,  see  that  the  admiral 

is  presented   in  a  different  light  from  that  in  which 

he  has  been  accustomed   to  view  him,  I  must  beg 

him,  before  he  condemns  the  narrative,  to  examine 

the  proof  which  I  thi-nk  establishes  every  statement. 

The    admiral    had    his   faults.     Who   has    not  ? 

But  on  the  whole  he  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen. 

His  energies  were  sincerely  and  intensely  devoted 

to  the  good  of  humanity.     He  was  ambitious.     But 

it  was  a  noble  ambition,  to  make  his  life  sublime. 

He  was  a  man  of  pure  lips  and  of  unblemished  life. 

His  chosen  friends  were  the  purest,  the  most  exalted, 

the  best  of  men.      He  had  no  low  vices.     Gambling, 

drinking,   carousing,   were  abhorrent  to  his  nature. 

He  was  a  student  of  science  and  literature  ;  and  in 

the  most  accomplished  female  society  he  found  his 

social  joy.     While  forming  the  comprehensive  views 

of    statesmanship    and    of    strategy,    and    evincing 

bravery  unsurpassed  by  any  knight  of  romance,  he 

was  in  manners,  thought,  and  utterance,  as  unaffected 

as  a  child, 

John  S.  C.  Abbott 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP'i'ER  I. 
Tfu  Early  Life  of  John  Paul  ^oms. 

PACB 

His  Birth  and  Childhood, — Residence  and  Employments  in  Scot- 
land.— His  Studious  Habits. — First  Voyage  to  America. — 
Engaged  in  the  Slave  Trade. — Reasons  for  Abandoning  it.-~ 
False  Charges  against  him. — His  Sensitiveness  to  Obloq-s" 
— Espouses  the  Cause  of  the  Colonies. — Developments  twf 
Ciiaracter. — Extracts  from  his  Letters.  ...  ^ 

CHAPTER  n. 
The  Infant  Navy. 

Rescuing  the  Brigantine. — Commissioned  as  Captain. — Escape 
firom  the  Solway. — Conflict  with  the  Milford. — Adventure* 
at  Canso  and  Madame. — Return  with  Prizes. — Expeditioj- 
to  C?^\^^  Breton. — \Vise  Counsel  of  Jones. — Brilliant  Nava^ 
CArap?.ign. — Saving  the  Prizes. — Value  of  the  Mellish. — Mis- 
siiui  to  France. — Disappointnient. — Sails  with  the  Ranger.  .      \i 

CHAPTER  HI 

Bearding  the  British  Lien. 

Aid  from  France. — Plan  for  the  Destruction  of  the  British  FleeL 
—The  American  Flag  Saluted. — Bold  Movement  of  Ca  ;>taiB 
Jones.— Cruise  along  the  Shores  of  England. — Capture  o# 
Prixes. — Salutary  Lessons  given  to  England. — Operations  ia 
the  Frith  of  Clyde. — At  Carrickfergus. —Attempt  upon  the 
Drake. — Burning  the  Shipping  at  Whitehaven  — Capture  of 
iht  Plate  of  Lcrd  Selkirk.       .         .  .         ,         .         .     k^ 


CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IV. 
Captain  yoTies  at  Nantes  and  at  BttU. 

TACK 

Correspondence  with  Lord  Selkirk. — Terrible  Battle  with  Uic 
ship  Drake. — Capture  of  the  ship. — Carnage  on  board  the 
Drake. — Generosity  to  Captured  Fishermen. — Insubordina 
tion  of  Lieutenant  Simpson. — Embarrassments  of  Captain 
Jones. — Hopes  and  Disappointments. — Proofs  of  Unselfish 
Patriotism, — Letter  to  the  King  of  France. — Anecdote  of 
P(X>r  Richard.         .........     7^ 

CHAPTER  V. 

Cruise  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard, 

Plans  of  Lafayette. — Correspondence. — Humane  Instructiors  of 
Franklin. — Proposed  Invasion  of  England. — Sailing  of  the 
Squadron. — Conduct  of  Pierre  Landais. — The  Collision. — 
Adventures  of  the  Cruise. — Insane  Actions  of  I^andais. — 
Plan  for  Capture.  —  Plan  for  the  Capture  of  l>eith  and 
Edinburgh. .         .  las 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Thi  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Serapii, 

[xjith  Threatened.  —  The  Summons.  —  Remarkable  Prayer. — 
Wide-spread  Alarm. — Continuation  of  the  Cruise. — Insubor- 
dination of  Landais. — Successive  Captures. — Terrible  Battle 
between  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Serapis. — The 
Great  Victory \zi 

CHAPTER  VH. 

Result  of  the  Victory. 

Dreadful  Spectacle. — Sinking  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.— 
Escape  of  the  Baltic  Fleet. — Sails  for  the  Texek — Intereslin|{ 
Correspondence. — SuflFenngs  of  the  American  Prisoners.— 


CONTENTS  ix 

Barbarity  of  the  English  Government. — Humanity  of  Captain 
Jonc*. — The  Transference  from  the  Serapis  to  the  /  Uiance. 
—Extracts  from  the  British  Press. — Release  of  Prisc'Rt~s.      .   148 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Commodore  yones  at  Court. 

t>fer  of  a  Privateersman. — Indignant  Reply. — The  Renown  of 
Commodore  Jones. — Successful  Retreat. — Cruise  through  the 
Channel. — Poetic  Effusion. —  Enters  Corunna. —  Letter  to 
Lafayette.— Embarrassed  Finances  of  Franklin. — Inirigues 
of  Landais. — His  Efforts  to  Excite  Mutiny. — Testimony 
against  him. — Commodore  Jones  at  Court 172 

CHAPTER   IX. 

7>t^  Mutiny  of  Landais. 

The  Visit  of  Jones  to  Versailles. — Intrigi:es  of  Landais. — The 
Alliance  Wrested  from  Jones. — Complicity  of  Arthur  Lee. — 
Magnanimity  of  Jones. — Strong  Support  of  Dr.  Johnson. — 
Honors  Conferred  upon  Jones. — Strange  Career  of  Landais. 
— His  Life  in  America,  and  Death.— Continued  Labors  and 
Embarrassments  of  Jones. — His  Correspondence.  .        .  »^3 

CHAPTER   X. 
Tlu  Return  to  America. 

Fitting  the  Ariel.— Painful  Delays.— The  Sailing.— Terrible 
Tempest. — The  Disabled  Ship. — Puts  back  to  L'Oricnt. — 
The  Second  Departure.  —  Meets  the  Triumph.  —  Bloody 
Naval  Battle.- Perfidious  Escape  of  the  Triumph.— The 
Ariel  Reaches  America. — Honors  Lavished  upon  Jones. — 
Appointed  to  Build  and  Command  the  America. — Great 
Skill  D  splayed.— The  Ship  given  to  France    -The  Launch.  214 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
T/i£   War  Ended. 

PAGE 

Promise  of  the  South  Carolina. — A  New  Disappointment. — The 
Great  Expedition  Planned.— Magnitude  of  the  Squadron. 
— The  Appointed  Rendezvous.— Commodore  Jones  Joins 
the  Expedition. — His  Cordial  Reception. — Great  Difficulties 
and  Embarrassments. — The  Rendezvous  at  Port  Cabella. 
— Tidings  of  Peace. — Return  to  America. — New  Mission  to 
France 236 

CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Difficulties  of  Diplo7?iacy. 

Courteous  Reception  in  Paris. — Compliment  of  the  King.— Prin- 
ciples of  Prize  Division. — Embarrassing  Questions. — Inter- 
esting Correspondence.  —  The  Final  Settlement. — Modest 
Claims  of  Commodore  Jones. — Plan  for  a  Commercial  Specu- 
lation.—Its  Failure. — The  Mission  to  Denmark. — Return  to 
America. 258 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
The  Mission  to  Denmark. 

\  ^tter  to  Mr.  Jefferson.— -The  Marquise  de  Marsan.— Unfounded 
Charges  and  Vindication.  —  Flattering  Application  from 
Catherine  II.— His  Reception  at  the  Polish  Court.— Jones 
receives  the  Title  of  Rear-Admiral.— English  Indolence- 
Letter  of  Catherine  II.  .         .         .         .         •         •         .   **< 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

The  Russian  Campaign. 

Aduairal  Jones  repairs  to  the  Black  Sea. — Designs  of  C^theiina 
I L— Imposing  Cavalcade.— Turkey  Declares  War  agsin>-.i 
^Hssia.  —  Daring   Conduct   of  Admiral  Jones.  —  A    Gre^V 


CONTENTS.  Jd 

OflBcer  Alexiana.—  The  Prince  of  Nassau  Siegen. — Annoy- 
ances of  Admiral  Jones  from  Russian  Officers. — Battle  in  the 
Black  Sea, — Jones  yields  the  Honor  to  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  2fjlit 

CHAPTER    XV. 

Adventures  m  the  Black  Sea. 

Tb«  First  Battle, — Folly  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau. — Inefficiency 
of  the  Gun-boats, — Burning  of  the  Greek  Captives. — Hu- 
manity of  Jones. — Alienation  between  the  Admiral  and  th** 
Prince  of  Nassau. — The  Second  Conflict. — Annoyances  ot 
the  Admiral. — Hostility  of  the  English. — Necessary  Employ- 
ment of  Foreign  Seamen. — Di.sgrace  of  Nassau. — Transfer- 
ence of  the  Admiral  to  the  Baltic. 3  it 

CHAPTER    XVI. 

RetireTnent  and  Death. 

The  Return  to  Cherson.  —  Sickness  and  Sadness.  —  Oczakow 
Stormed. — The  Wintry  Journey  to  St.  Petersburg. — Mental 
Activity. —  Calumniated  by  the  English. —  The  Admiral's 
Defence. — Slanderous  Accusation. — His  Entire  Acquittal. — 
Testimony  of  Count  Segur. — Letter  to  the  Empress. — Obtains 
I.«ave  of  Absence. — Returns  to  France. — Life  in  Paris. — 
Sickness  anl  Denth.       .         .  ...  3J3 


Paul  Jones 


CHAPTER  I- 
The  Early  Life  of  Johi  Paul  Jones, 

His  Birth  and  Childhood.— Residence  and  Employments  in  Scot 
land. — His  Studious  Habits. — First  Voyage  to  America.— 
Engaged  in  the  Slave  Trade. — Reasons  for  Abandoning  it,~ 
False  Charges  against  Him.— His  Sensitiveness  to  Obloquy.— 
Espouses  the  Cause  of  the  Colonies,— Developments  of  Chti^-ac- 
ter. — Extracts  from  his  Letters. 

In  the  lonely  wilds  of  Scotland  there  was,  about 
the  middle  of  the  last  century,  a  secluded  hamlet 
"ailed  Arbingland.  There  was  a  respectable  gar- 
dener there  by  the  name  of  John  Paul.  He  had  a 
son  born  on  the  6th  of  July,  1747,  to  whom  he  gave 
his  own  name  of  John.  His  humble  cottage  was 
near  the  shores  of  Solway  Frith.  Young  John 
Paul,  like  most  energetic  lads  who  live  within  sound 
of  the  ocean  surge,  became  impassioned  with  long- 
^nc^s  for  a  sailor's  life.     When  twelve  years  of  age  he 


lO  PAUL  JONES. 

was  sent  across  the  bay  to  Whitehaven,  in  England 
then  quite  an  important  seaport.  Here  he  was 
apprenticed  to  Mr.  Younger,  who  was  quite  extern- 
sively  engaged  in  the  American  trade. 

The  daily  intercourse  of  John  with  the  sea 
men  inspired  him  with  a  strong  desire  to  visit  the 
New  World.  He  had  received  a  good  common- 
school  education,  such  as  Scottish  boys  generally 
enjoyed  at  that  time,  and  was  also  so  eager  for  intel- 
lectual improvement  that  all  his  leisure  time  was 
given  to  study.  He  particularly  devoted  himself  to 
the  acquisition  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
theory  of  navigation.  He  even  studied  French. 
Often  at  midnight,  when  many  of  his  companions 
were  at  a  carouse,  he  was  found  absorbed  with  his 
books. 

When  John  was  thirteen  years  of  age  he  cm- 
barked,  as  a  sailor,  on  board  the  ship  Friendship, 
bound  for  the  Rappahannock,  in  Virginia,  for  a 
cargo  of  tobacco.  He  had  an  elder  brother,  Wil- 
liam, who  had  emigrated  to  this  country,  and,  marry- 
ing a  Virginia  girl,  had  settled  on  the  banks  of  the 
Rappahannock.  John  had  acquired  a  high  reputa- 
tion at  Whitehaven  for  his  correct  deportment,  hii 
intelligence,  and  his  fidelity  in  the  dischaige  of  every 
duty.  He  improved  his  time  so  well,  while  in  the 
employment  of  Mr.  Younger,  as  to  lay  the  founda- 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE,  1 1 

tion  for  that  eminence,  which  he  could  not  have  ob- 
tained but  for  this  education.  He  could  write  his 
own  language  correctly,  and  even  with  considerable, 
force ;  he  was  a  very  respectable  French  scholar, 
and  there  were  but  few  ship-masters  who  could 
excel  him  in  the  science  of  navigation. 

John  Paul  was  but  thirteen  years  of  age  when,  in 
the  year  1760,  he  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  was  cor- 
dially welcomed  in  the  humble  home  of  his  brother, 
in  one  of  the  most  attractive  valleys  of  the  world. 
He  was  delighted  with  the  entirely  new  scenes 
which  were  here  opened  before  him,  and  became 
thoroughly  American  in  his  feelings.  His  first  visit 
was  a  short  one,  as  he  returned  with  his  ship  to 
Whitehaven.  Soon  after  this,  Mr.  Younger  failed  in 
business,  and  Paul  was  released  from  his  indentures. 
Thus  the  precocious  boy,  who  was  already  a  man  in 
thoughtfulness,  energy,  and  earnestness  of  purpose 
was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources. 

He  maae  several  voyages,  and  at  length  shipped 
as  third  mate  on  board  the  ship  King  George,  which 
was  bound  to  the  Guinea  Coast  of  Africa,  for  slaves. 
Strange  as  it  now  appears,  the  slave  trade  was  then 
considered  an  honorable  calling.  Men  of  unques- 
tioned piety,  who  morning  and  evening  kneeled 
with  their  happy  children  around  the  family  altar, 
fitted  out  ships  to  desolate  the  homes  and  steal  the 


12  FAUL  JONES. 

children  of  Africans,  and  bear  them  away  to  life-long 
slavery.  Many  a  captain,  after  crowding  the  hold 
of  his  ship  with  these  melancholy  victims  of  his 
Inhumanity,  would  retire  to  his  cabin,  read  the  pre- 
cepts of  Jesus,  *'  As  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to 
you,  do  ye  also  to  them  likewise,"  and  would  ther 
kneel  in  prayer,  imploring  God's  blessing.  And  this 
was  not  hypocrisy.     So  strange  a  being  is  fallen  man. 

We  have  no  indications  that  any  compunctions 
of  conscience  disturbed  John  Paul  on  this  voyage. 
The  most  illustrious,  opulent,  and  worthy  people  of 
England  were  engaged  in  the  infamous  traffic.  Of 
course  it  was  not  to  be  expected  that  a  boy,  scarcely 
emerging  from  childhood,  should  develop  humanity 
above  that  of  the  generation  in  the  midst  of  which 
he  was  born.  The  Friendship  bore  its  freight  of 
human  victims  to  the  West  Indies,  where  they  were 
sold.  He  then,  when  nineteen  years  of  age,  shipped 
at  Jamaica,  on  board  the  brigantine  Two  Friends, 
for  Africa,  to  obtain  another  cargo  of  slaves. 

It  speaks  volumes  in  favor  of  the  intelligence  of 
John  Paul,  that  he  became  so  thoroughly  disgusted 
with  the  cruelty  of  the  traffic,  desolating  Africa  with 
the  most  merciless  wars,  and  tearing  husbands  from 
wives,  parents  from  children,  that,  upon  his  return  to 
Kingston,  he  declared  that  he  woi.ld  have  nothing 
more  to  do   with    the   traffic   forever,     liis   friend* 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  IS 

unite  in  giving  their  testimony  to  this  his  reyolve 
and  it  is  confirmed  by  the  uniform  tenor  of  his  sub- 
sequent correspondence. 

From  this  his  second  slaving  voyage  he  embarked 
for  Scotland,  as  a  passenger,  on  board  the  brigantinc 
John,  under  th'e  command  of  Captain  Macadam. 
On  the  passage  the  yellow  fever  broke  out.  Both 
the  captain  and  the  mate  of  the  ship  died.  They 
were  left  in  the  middle  of  the  stormy  Atlantic,  with 
none  of  the  crew  capable  of  navigating  the  ship 
Fortunately  for  all,  John  Paul  assumed  the  com 
mand.  The  whole  crew  gratefully  recognized  his 
authority.  Be  it  remembered  that  he  had  not  yet 
finished  his  twentieth  year.  He  brought  the  ship 
safe  into  port.  The  owners,  Messrs.  Currie,  Beck 
&  Co.,  in  recompense  of  the  great  service  he  had 
rendered  them,  at  once  gave  him  command  of  a  ship 
both  as  captain  and  supercargo.  In  their  employ- 
ment he  sailed  for  two  voyages. 

On  one  of  these  voyages,  Captain  Paul  was 
accused  of  whipping,  with  undue  severity,  an  insub- 
ordinate sailor,  by  the  name  of  Mungo  Maxwell. 
But  a  legal  investigation  absolved  him  from  all 
blame.  The  accusation,  and  the  trial  which  was 
prolonged  through  six  months,  caused  Captain  Paul 
great  annoyance.  The  following  letter  to  his  mo- 
ther aird  sisters  reveals  his  feelings,  and  much  of  hit 


14  ^AUL  JONES. 

chaiacter,  at  that  time.     He  was  then  but  twenty 
6vc  years  of  age. 

"  London,  24th  September,  1771. 

"  My  Dear  Mother  and  Sisters, 

**  I  only  arrived  here  last  night  from  the  Gre- 
nadas.  I  have  had  but  poor  health  during  the  voy- 
a£^e.  My  success  in  it  not  having  equalled  my  first 
sanguine  expectations,  has  added  very  much  to  the 
asperity  of  my  misfortunes,  and,  I  am  well  assured, 
was  the  cause  of  my  loss  of  health.  I  am  now, 
however,  better,  and  I  trust  Providence  will  soon 
put  me  in  a  way  to  get  bread,  and,  which  is  far  my 
greatest  happiness,  to  be  serviceable  to  my  poor  but 
much  valued  friends.  I  am  able  to  give  you  no 
account  of  my  future  proceedings,  as  they  depend 
upon  circumstances  which  are  not  fully  determined. 
**  I  have  enclosed  to  you  a  copy  of  an  affidavit 
made  before  Governor  Young,  by  the  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Vice-Admiralty  of  Tobago,  by  which  you 
will  see  with  how  little  reason  my  life  has  been 
thirsted  after,  and,  which  is  much  dearer  to  me,  my 
honor,  by  maliciously  loading  my  fair  character  v/ith 
obloquy  and  vile  aspersions.  I  believe  there  are 
few  who  are  hard-hearted  enough  to  think  I  have 
not  long  since  given  to  the  world  every  satisfaction 
in    my  power,   bein>^   conscious    of    my    innocence 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  15 

before  Heaven,  who  will  one  day  judge  even  my 
judges. 

**  I  staked  my  honor,  life,  and  fortune,  for  six 
long  months,  on  the  verdict  of  a  British  jury,  not- 
withstanding I  was  sensible  of  the  general  prejudice 
which  ran  against  me.  But,  after  all,  none  of  my 
accusers  had  the  courage  to  confront  me.  Yet  I  am 
willing  to  convince  the  world,  if  reason  and  facts  will 
do  it,  that  they  have  had  no  foundation  for  theit 
harsh  treatment. 

"  I  mean  to  send  Mr.  Craik  a  copy,  properly 
proved,  as  his  nice  feelings  will  not,  perhaps,  be 
otherwise  satisfied.  In  the  mean  time,  if  you  please, 
you  can  show  him  that  enclosed.  His  ungracious 
conduct  to  me  before  I  left  Scotland  I  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  get  the  better  of.  Every  person  of 
feeling  must  think  meanly  of  adding  to  the  load 
of  the  afflicted.  It  is  true  I  bore  it  with  seeming 
unconcern.  But  heaven  can  witness  for  me  that 
I  suffered  the  more  on  that  very  account.  But 
enough  of  this." 

The  Mr.  Craik  to  whom  he  here  refers  was  a 
gentleman  of  property,  in  whose  employment  Mr. 
Paul's  father  had  formerly  been  engaged.  The 
whole  family  were  accustomed  to  look  up  to  him 
with  much  reverence.  It  was  perhaps  a  fault  in 
young  Captain  Paul  that  the  organ  of  veneration,  a^ 


l6  PAUL  JONES. 

the  phrenologists  would  say,  was  not,  in  him,  vei^ 
fully  developed.  His  knees  were  not  supple  in 
bowing  before  those  who  were  above  him  in 
wealth  and  rank.  Mr.  Craik  had  not  fancied  the 
independent  boy,  and  was  consequently  the  more 
ready  to  believe  the  charges  which  were  brought 
against  him. 

A  rumor  reached  Mr.  Paul,  while  in  the  West 
Indies,  that  the  commercial  firm  in  whose  service 
he  was  sailing  was  about  to  close  its  operations. 
This  would  throw  him  out  of  employment.  He 
wrote  in  the  following  terms  to  Mr.  Craik,  whom  as 
a  family  friend  and  patron  he  highly  respected. 
This  letter  was  written  a  year  before  the  charge  for 
the  maltreatment  of  Mungo  Maxwell  was  brought 
against  him.     It  was  as  follows : 

"St.  George,  Grenada,  5th  August,  1770 

"  Sir, 

"  Common  report  here  says  that  my  owners  are 
going  to  finish  their  connections  in  the  West  Indies 
as  fast  as  possible.  How  far  this  is  true  I  shall  not 
pretend  to  judge.  But  should  that  really  prove  to 
be  the  case,  you  know  the  disadvantage  I  must  labor 
"ander. 

"  These,  however,  would  not  have  been  the  casir 
had  I  been  acquainted  with  the  matter  sooner,  as,  ir 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  1 7 

that  case,  I  believe  I  could  have  made  interest  with 
some  gentlemen  here  to  have  been  concerned  with 
me  in  a  large  ship  out  of  London.  And  as  these 
gentlemen  have  estates  in  this  and  the  adjacent 
islands,  I  should  have  been  able  to  make  two  voyages 
every  year,  and  should  Jilways  have  had  a  full  ship 
out  and  home. 

"  However,  I  by  no  means  repine,  as  it  is  a  max- 
im with  me  to  do  my  best  and  leave  the  rest  to  Pro- 
vidence. I  shall  take  no  step  whatever  without  your 
knowledge  and  approbation.  I  have  had  several  very 
severe  fevers  lately,  which  have  reduced  me  a  good 
deal,  though  I  am  now  perfectly  recovered.  I  must 
beg  you  to  supply  my  mother,  should  she  want  any- 
thing, as  I  well  know  your  readiness.  I  hope  your- 
self and  family  enjoy  health  and  happiness. 
"  I  am,  most  sincerely,  sir,  yours  always, 

"John  Paul." 

In  1773,  John  Paul's  brother  died,  in  Virginia- 
He  died  childless,  and  left  no  will.  John  repaired  to 
his  brother's  former  residence  to  settle  the  estate. 
Here,  for  some  reason  which  has  never  been  satisfac- 
torily explained,  he  assumed  the  surname  of  Jones, 
so  that  he  ever  afterward  beo.me  familiarly  known 
as  Paui  Jones.  His  subsequent  achievements  be- 
came such,  that  probably  that  name  will  never  b« 


l8  PAUL   )ONES. 

obliterated  from  the  memories  of  men.  He  had 
acquired  considerable  property,  which  he  iutru53tcd 
to  agents  at  Tobago,  and  it  was  all  lost. 

Captain  Jones,  weary  of  the  wandering  life  of  s 
sailor  and  its  unsatisfactory  results,  was  now  disposed 
to  devote  his  days  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  agri- 
culture and  to  study,  for  which  he  had  very  strong 
predilections.  In  his  letters  to  his  friends  he  often 
expressed  his  desire  to  enter  upon  a  life  of  "  calm 
contemplation  and  poetic  ease."  Man  proposes,  God 
disposes.  The  tumultuous  career  into  which  he  was 
led,  was  not  one  which  he  would  have  sought  for  him- 
self. He  was  almost  forced  into  it  by  the  state  of 
the  times. 

When  in  the  midst  of  the  stormiest  scenes,  with- 
out a  family  and  without  a  home,  he  wrote  pensively 
to  the  Countess  of  Selkirk,  that  duty  to  his  country 
had  compelled  him  "  to  sacrifice  not  only  his  favor- 
ite scheme  of  life,  but  the  softer  affections  of  his 
heart,  and  his  hopes  of  domestic  happiness."  His 
letters  all  indicate  that  he  was  a  thoughtful  man,  one 
who  deeply  pondered  the  mystery  of  this  our  earthly 
being,  and  who  made  frank  acknowledgment  of  his 
aioral  and  religious  obligations. 

His  favorite  poet  was  Thomson  ;  and  his  "  Sea- 
sons "  he  read  and  re-read.  It  is  not  possible  that 
any    man  of  frivolous  nature  should  develop  a  tast^ 


HIS  EARLY   LIFE.  I9 

SO  serious  and  so  elevating.  The  loss  of  all  his  pro- 
perty at  Tobago  disheartened  him,  and  repelled  him 
from  the  risks  of  a  commercial  life.  This  probably 
decided  him  to  settle  down  as  a  planter  in  Virginia, 
and  to  remain  satisfied  with  the  humble  competence 
of  a  cultivator  of  the  soil,  in  a  rural  home.  He 
wrote  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Morris : 

"  I  conclude  that  Mr.  Hewes  has  acquainted  you 
with  a  very  great  misfortune  which  befell  me  some 
years  ago,  and  which  brought  me  into  North  Ame- 
rica. I  am  under  no  concern  whatever,  that  this,  or 
any  other  past  circumstance  of  my  life,  will  sink  me 
in  your  opinion.  Since  human  wisdom  cannot  secure 
us  from  accidents,  it  is  the  greatest  effort  of  human 
wisdom  to  bear  them  well." 

From  the  age  of  thirteen,  America  had  been  the 
country  of  his  adoption.  Increasing  years  but  added 
to  his  attachment  to  the  principles  of  liberty  which 
were  being  developed  here.  His  innate  mental  con- 
stitution revolted  from  the  feudal  subserviency  which 
a  haughty  aristocracy  exacted  in  Europe.  When  the 
struggle  was  commencing  between  the  mother  coun- 
try and  these  her  infant  colonies,  Mr.  Jones,  with  all 
the  ardor  of  his  nature,  espoused  the  colonial  cause. 
He  then  occupied  the  position  of  a  Virginia  gentle- 
man, highly  respected  for  his  character  and  his  en- 
dowments.    The  rank  of  those  with  whom  he  was  ir 


10  PAUL  JONES. 

correspondence  indicates  his  social  position.  He  was 
not  a  friendless  adventurer,  but  an  intelligent  patriot, 
whose  influence  was  constantly  increasing  through 
the  sound  judgment,  the  courage,  and  the  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice  he  was  ever  exhibiting. 

He  often  expressed  deep  regret  for  the  painful 
necessity  which  compelled  him  to  take  up  arms 
against  the  Government  of  his  native  land.  But  he 
was  struggling  for  the  maintenance  of  his  own  rights, 
and  those  of  his  fellow-countrj^men,  goaded  to  resist 
unendurable  tyranny.  In  a  letter  which  he  wrote  to 
Baron  Vander  Capellan,  then  Dutch  minister  at  the 
Hague,  he  says : 

"  I  was  indeed  born  in  Britain  ;  but  1  do  not  in- 
herit the  degenerate  spirit  of  that  fallen  nation, 
which  I  at  once  lament  and  despise.  U  is  far  be- 
neath me  to  reply  to  their  hireling  invectives.  They 
are  strangers  to  the  envied  approbation  that  greatly 
animates  and  rewards  the  man  who  draws  his  sword 
only  in  support  of  the  dignity  of  freedom.  America 
has  been  the  country  of  my  fond  election  from  the 
age  of  thirteen,  when  I  first  saw  it.  I  had  the  honor 
to  hoist,  with  my  own  hands,  the  flag  of  freedom, 
the  first  time  it  was  displayed  on  the  Delaware,  ano 
I  have  attended  it  with  veneration  ever  si-  ce  on  the 
ocean." 

When  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  in   (775,  com- 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  21 

mcnced,  England  had  a  thousand  war-vessels.  The 
colonies  had  not  one.  Congress  equipped  a  naval 
force  of  five  vessels  to  resist  the  most  powerful  naval 
innament  this  world  has  ever  known.  Paul  Jones 
was  appointed  first  lieutenant  of  one  of  these,  the 
!hip  Alfred.  He  owed  this  appointment  to  the 
Hon.  Joseph  Hewes,  a  member  of  Congress,  and  a 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  who 
chanced  to  be  acquainted  with  the  rare  qualifications 
of  Mr.  Jones  for  the  position.  Captain  Saltonstall 
commanded  the  Alfred. 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1776,  the  Alfred,  a  fri- 
gate of  44  guns  was  lying  at  anchor  off  Chestnut  Street 
wharf,  in  Philadelphia.  We  had  then  no  national  ban- 
ner. As  the  commander  came  on  board,  Lieutenant 
John  Paul  Jones,  with  his  own  hands,  raised  the  first 
American  naval  flag,  under  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns. 
This  flag,  it  is  said,  then  consisted  of  thirteen  stripes, 
emblematic  of  the  thirteen  colonies,  and  a  pine-tree 
with  a  rattlesnake  coiled  at  the  roots,  as  if  about  to 
spring.  Underneath  was  the  motto,  "  Don't  Tread 
upon  Me."  In  commemoration  of  this  event,  Miss 
Sherburne  wrote  an  ode,  from  which  we  quote  two 
stanzas : 

'  'Twas  Jones,  Paul  Jones,  who  first  o'er  Delaware's  tide 
From  Alfreds  main  displayed  Columbia's  pride  ; 
The  stripes  of  freedom  proudly  waved  on  high. 
While  shouts  of  freedom  rang  for  liberty. 


33  PAUI    JONES. 

'•Through  England's  fleets  thou  dashed  in  bold  tsr&fj. 
On  Albion's  coast  spread  terror  and  dismay; 
Thy  cannons'  thunder  shook  her  rock-bound  shorCj 
Her  Lion  trerablect  midst  his  boastful  roar 

The  little  squadron,  consisting  of  the  ships  Alfred 
and  Columbus,  the  brigantines  Andrew  Doria  and 
Cabot,  and  the  sloop  Providence,  sailed  from  the  Bay 
of  Delaware  on  the  17th  of  February,  1776,  to  make 
a  descent  on  the  British  Island  of  New  Providence, 
to  seize  a  quantity  of  miHtary  stores  which  were 
deposited  in  the  forts  there.  The  squadron  was 
armed  in  all  with  one  hundred  guns  and  about  one 
thousand  men.  Ezekiel  Hopkins  was  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  fleet.  The  fleet  was  not  ready  to  saii 
until  the  middle  of  February.  Struggling  through 
vast  masses  of  ice,  the  vessels  passed  Cape  Hen- 
lopen  on  the  17th  of  the  month. 

In  this  important  enterprise  John  Paul  Jones 
v/as  only  a  lieutenant.  But  it  should  be  remarked 
that  there  were  three  grades  of  lieutenant,  and  that 
he  w^as  placed  at  the  head  of  the  first  grade.  He 
was  offered  a  captain's  commission,  to  take  command 
of  the  Providence,  which  carried  twelve  guns  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men.  Modestly  this  extraor- 
dinary  man  declined  the  responsible  position,  not 
deeming  himself  fully  qualified  to  fill  it.  Subse« 
quently,  in  a  letter  to  the  Hon.  Robert  Morris,  he 
wrote : 


HIS  EARLY   LIFE.  33 

"  "Phen  I  came  to  try  my  skill  I  am  not  ashamed 
to  own  that  I  did  not  find  myself  perfect  in  the 
duties  of  a  first  lieutenant.  However,  I  by  no 
means  admit  that  any  one  of  the  gentlemen  whc  so 
earnestly  sought  after  rank  and  the  command,  "was, 
at  the  beginning,  able  to  teach  me  any  part  of  the 
duty  of  a  sea-ofificer.  Since  that  time  it  is  well 
known  there  has  been  no  comparison  between  their 
means  of  acquiring  military  marine  knowledge  and 
mine.  If  midnight  study  and  the  instruction  of  the 
greatest  and  most  learned  sea-officers  can  have  given 
me  advantages,  I  am  not  without  them.  I  confess, 
however,  I  am  yet  to  learn.  It  is  the  work  of  many 
/ears*  study  and  experience  to  acquire  the  high 
degree  of  science  necessary  for  a  great  sea-officer. 
Cruising  after  merchant-ships,  the  service  on  which 
our  frigates  have  generally  been  employed,  affords, 
I  may  say,  no  part  of  the  knowledge  necessary  for 
conducting  fleets  and  their  operations.  There  is 
now  perhaps  as  much  difference  between  a  single 
battle  between  two  ships,  and  an  engagement  be- 
tween  two  fleets,  as  there  is  between  a  single  duel 
And  a  ranged  battle  between  two  armies." 

While  the  fleet  was  fitting  and  manning,  Lieute- 
nant Jones  had  superintended  all  the  affairs  on  board 
the  Alfred.  It  was  not  until  a  day  or  two  before  the 
iquadron  sailed  that  Captain  Saltonstall  appeared  and 


M4  l^AUL  JONES. 

took  the  command.  On  the  4th  of  March  th# 
squadron  anchored  at  Abaco,  one  of  the  Bahama 
Islands,  about  one  hundred  miles  north  from  New 
**rcvidence.  On  the  passage  they  had  captured 
two  small  sloops  from  New  Providence.  They 
learned  from  the  crew  of  these  vessels,  that  the  forts 
were  not  strongly  garrisoned,  and  that  they  con- 
tained large  magazines  of  all  military  stores. 

The  commander  was  not  skilful  either  as  a  sea- 
man  or  a  soldier.  Through  mismanagement  the 
enterprise  came  near  proving  a  total  failure.  Jones 
was  born  to  command.  Without  any  effort  on  his 
part,  his  superior  mind  and  knowledge  naturally 
assumed  ascendency.  Seeing  that  all  things  were 
going  wrong,  he  suggested  sailing  round  to  the  west 
of  the  island,  landing  the  marines  about  nine  miles 
from  the  fort,  and  then,  by  a  rapid  march,  to  make 
the  assault.  Mr.  Jones  promised  himself  to  pilot  the 
vessels  to  a  safe  anchorage.  With  some  reluctance 
Captain  Saltonstall  gave  his  assent.  Jones  took 
the  pilot  with  him  to  the  foretopmast-head.  From 
that  point  they  could  see  evQry  reef  and  rock,  and 
trace  out  the  channel.  The  marines  landed  undei 
cover  of  the  guns.  There  was  no  force  sufficient  to 
oppose  them.  Captain  Saltonstall,  by  his  injudicious 
mcvements,  had  given  ample  warning  of  his  approach 
so    that    the    governor    took    the   time,  during   the 


HIS   EARLY    LIFE.  2$ 

i^ight,  to  load  two  sloops  with  ammunition  and  send 
whcm  away.  This  might  easily  have  been  prevented 
bv  ordering  the  two  brigantines  to  lie  off  the  bar. 

The  island  was  surrendered  by  the  governor 
The  guns,  and  all  the  governmental  property  in  the 
cbrts,  were  embarked  on  board  the  vessels.  All  pii- 
vate  property  was  sacredly  respected.  And  this  was 
done  when  the  officers  of  the  English  Government 
were  laying  our  villages  in  ashes,  and  hounding  on 
the  savages  to  assail  our  defenceless  frontier  with  the 
torch  and  the  tomahawk.  The  governor  and  two 
othjr  military  men  were  brought  off  as  prisoners. 

( »n  the  return  with  this  booty,  of  such  almost 
inestimable  value  to  the  struggling  colonies,  the  fleet 
captured  two  vessels  without  a  struggle,  the  Hawke, 
a  schooner  of  six  guns,  and  the  brig  Bolton,  of  eight 
guns.  The  fleet  encountered  off  Block  Island,  at  the 
head  of  Long  Island  Sound,  an  EngHsh  frigate,  the 
Glasgow,  of  24  guns.  The  Alfred  mounted  30  guns, 
the  Columbus  28  Had  there  been  any  skill  in  mili- 
tary seamanship  displayed,  the  Glasgow  could  not 
have  escaped  this  force.  The  sea  was  perfectly 
smooth.  Lieutenant  Jones  was  placed  between 
decks  to  serve  the  first  battery.  He  could  have  no 
voice  in  the  direction  of  the  battle.  Whenever  his 
guns  could  be  brought  to  bear  upon  the  enemy  hp 
«en-ed  them  well.     Captain  Saltonstall,  in  his  ofifjcfs. 


Jj6  PAUL  JONES. 

report,  testified  to  his  fidelity  in  duty.  The  Glasgow 
escaped.  This  was  our  first  naval  battle.  It  reflect- 
ed  no  credit  upon  our  infant  marine.  Lieutenant 
Jones  and  the  whole  nation  were  deeply  chagrined 
by  the  disgrace  of  that  night.  Repressing  merited 
condemnation,  he  mildly  wrote,  "  It  is  for  the  com- 
mander-in-chief and  the  captains  to  answer  for  th€ 
escape  of  the  Glasgow." 

Two  days  after  the  inglorious  action  the  squad- 
ron entered  the  harbor  of  New  London.  A  court- 
martial  was  held  to  investigate  the  affair.  The 
account  which  Lieutenant  Jones  gave  of  the  en- 
gagement, in  the  log-book  of  the  Alfred,  shows  a 
generous  and  magnanimous  mind. 

''At  2  A.  M.  cleared  ship  for  action.  At  half-past 
two,  the  Cabot,  being  between  us  and  the  enemy, 
began  to  engage,  and  soon  after  we  did  the  same 
At  the  third  glass  the  enemy  bore  away,  and,  by 
crowding  sail,  at  length  got  a  considerable  way 
ahead,  and  made  signals  for  the  rest  of  the  English 
fleet,  at  Rhode  Island,  to  come  to  her  assistance,  and 
steered  directly  for  the  harbor. 

**  The  commodore  then  thought  it  imprudent  tc 
.isk  our  prizes,  by  pursuing  farther.  Therefore 
to  prevent  our  being  decoyed  into  their  hands,  at 
half-past  six  made  the  signal  to  leave  off  chase  and 
aiaul  by  the  wind  to  join  our  prizes.     The  Cabot  wa>' 


rilS   EARLY    LIFE.  27 

disabled  at  the  second  broadside ;  the  captain  being 
dangerously  woun-ied,  the  master  and  several  men 
killed.  The  enemy's  whole  fire  was  then  directed  at 
us.  Ai;  unlucky  shot  liaving  carried  away  our  whe-el 
block  and  ropes,  the  ship  broached  to,  and  gave  tht 
enemy  an  opportunity  of  raking  us  with  severai 
broadsides  before  we  were  again  in  condition  to  steer 
the  ship  and  return  the  fire. 

"  In  the  action  wc  received  several  shots  undei 
water,  which  made  the  ship  very  leaky.  We  had, 
besides,  the  mainmast  shot  through,  and  the  upper 
works  and  rigging  vtry  considerably  damaged.  Yet 
it  is  surprising  that  we  only  lost  the  second  lieutenant 
of  marines  and  four  men.  We  had  no  more  than 
three  men  dangerously,  an  1  four  slightly  wounded." 

The  skill  with  which  th;,^  guns  of  the  Alfred  were 
served  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  a  passen- 
ger on  board  the  Glasgow  testified  that  her  hull 
was  seriously  damaged  ;  that  ten  shot  passed  through 
iier  mainmast,  fifty-two  through  her  mizzen  staysail, 
one  hundred  and  ten  through  her  mainsail,  and 
eighty-eight  through  her  foresail.  She  had  many 
spars  carried  away,  and  her  rigging  v/as  badly  cut  to 
pieces. 

This  our  first  naval  battle  was  fought  so  near  the 
Rhode  Island  shore,  that  the  report  of  the  guns  v»'a? 
heard,  and  even  the  flashes  were  seen  by  those  or 


3g  PAUL   JONES. 

the  land.  The  Continental  Gazette  of  May  29,  1776. 
gives  the  following  quaint  account  of  the  conflict^ 
from  one  who  listened  to  the  thunders  booming  over 
^he  waves. 

"  For  several  hours  before  and  during  the  en- 
gagement, a  vast  number  of  cannon  were  heard  from 
the  southeast.  About  sunrise  eight  or  ten  sail  of 
ships  and  brigs  were  seen  a  little  to  the  eastward  of 
Block  Island.  Indeed,  the  flashes  of  the  cannon  were 
seen  by  some  people  about  daybreak.  These  things 
caused  much  speculation.  But  in  a  few  hours  the 
mystery  was  somewhat  cleared  up ;  for  away  caoie 
the  poor  Glasgow,  under  all  the  sail  she  could  set, 
yelping  from  the  mouths  of  her  cannon  like  a  broken- 
legged  dog,  as  a  signal  of  her  being  sadly  wounded. 
And  though  she  settled  away,  and  handed  most  of 
her  sails  just  before  she  came  into  the  harbor,  it  was 
plainly  perceived,  by  the  holes  in  those  she  had 
standing,  and  by  the  hanging  of  her  yards,  that  she 
had  been  treated  in  a  very  rough  manner." 

Though  Lieutenant  Jones  could  not  be  blind  to 
the  want  of  nautical  skill  displayed  in  allowing  the 
Glasgow  to  escape,  he  did  not  doubt  that  the 
commodore  had  done  the  best  he  could.  Not  a 
word  of  demur  escaped  his  lips.  In  a  letter  to  Hon 
Mr.  Hewes,  he  wrote  ' 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  assurirg  you  that  tht 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  39 

commander-in-chief  is  respected  through  the  flect> 
I  verily  beh'eve  that  the  officers,  and  men  in  general, 
would  go  any  length  to  execute  his  orders.*' 

Another  passage  in  the  same  letter  throws  such 
light  upon  the  well-balanced  and  noble  character  of 
Lieutenant  Jones  that  I  cannot  refrain  from  quoting 
it.     He  writes  : 

"  It  is  certainly  for  the  interests  of  the  service 
that  a  cordial  interchange  of  civilities  should  subsist 
between  superior  and  inferior  officers.  Therefore  it 
is  bad  policy  in  superiors  to  behave  toward  their  infe- 
riors as  though  they  were  of  a  lower  species.  Men 
of  liberal  minds,  who  have  long  been  accustomed  to 
:ommand,  can  ill  brook  being  thus  set  at  naught  by 
others  who  pretend  to  claim  the  monopoly  of  sense. 
The  rude,  ungentle  treatment  which  they  experience, 
creates  such  heart-burnings  as  are  nowise  consonant 
with  that  cheerful  ardor  and  spirit  which  ought 
ever  to  be  a  characteristic  of  an  officer.  Therefore, 
whoever  thinks  himself  hearty  in  the  service,  is 
widely  mistaken  when  he  adopts  such  a  line  of  con- 
duct in  order  to  prove  it.  To  be  well  obeyed  it  15 
necessary  to  be  esteemed." 

Two  courts-martial  were  held  on  board  the 
Alfred.  The  captain  of  the  Providence  was  dks- 
missed  from  service.  Lieutenant  Jones  was  pro- 
moted  to  the  captaincy  of  that  sloop.    The  little 


50  PAUL  JONES. 

fleet,  having  received  a  reinforcement  of  two  hun 
dred  men,  sailed  from  Providence,  Rhode  Island. 
The  vessels  having  been  refitted,  it  was  necessary  to 
enlist  more  men  before  any  important  enterprise 
could  be  undertaken.  As  most  of  the  seamen  had 
enlisted  in  the  army,  it  was  found  very  difficult  to 
obtain  men  fit  for  naval  service. 

On  the  1 8th  of  May,  Captain  Jones,  after  a  pas- 
sage of  thirty-six  hours,  arrived  in  New  York,  where 
he  devoted  his  time  to  shipping  mariners.  He  was 
greatly  interested  in  everything  relating  to  the  crea- 
tion of  a  navy  for  the  new  nation  of  the  United 
States,  just  entering  into  being.  He  wrote  to  Hon. 
Mr.  Hewes : 

"  In  my  opinion  a  commander  in  the  navy  ought 
to  be  a  man  of  strong  and  well-connected  sense  ;  a 
gentleman,  as  well  as  a  seaman  in  theory  and  in 
practice.  Want  of  learning,  and  rude,  ungentle  man- 
ners, are  by  no  means  characteristic  of  an  officer.** 

Captain  Jones,  having  at  length  obtained  the 
number  of  men  required,  in  obedience  to  orders 
sailed  for  New  London,  where  he  took  from  the 
hospital  all  the  seamen  who  had  been  left  there  sick 
but  who  had  recovered,  and  sailed  for  Providence, 
Rhode  Island.  Scarcely  had  he  arrived  there  when 
he  received  orders  from  the  commander-in-chief 
to  come  immediately  down  Narragansett  Bay,   to 


HIS   EARLY   LIFE.  3 1 

attack  an  English  sloop- of- war,  then  in  sight.  He 
obeyed  with  alacrity.  But  the  sloop  had  disap- 
peared before  he  reached  Newport.  He  was  then 
ordered  to  Newburyport,  to  convoy  a  vessel  with 
a  cargo  of  cannon  to  New  York,  and  then,  return- 
ing, to  convoy  some  vessels  from  Stonington  to 
Newport. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  England  then  had  a 
fleet  of  a  thousand  sail ;  superior,  probably,  to  all 
the  combined  navies  of  the  globe.  This  was  the 
naval  power  we  were  to  resist  with  our  poor  little 
squadron  of  five  vessels,  mounting  in  all  but  one 
hundred  guns.  The  majestic  frigates  of  the  enemy 
blockaded  almost  every  harbor  in  the  colonies. 
There  vv^ere  several  of  these  cruising  at  the  eastern 
entrance  of  Long  Island  Sound,  to  cut  of  all  naval 
intercourse  between  the  colonies  of  the  Middle  and 
those  of  the  Eastern  States. 


CHAPTER  !I. 
The  Infant  Navy. 

Rcscming  the  Brigantine. — Commissioned  as  Captain. — I^r-^ape  fronc 
the  Solway. — Conflict  with  the  Milford, — Adventures  et  Cans<' 
and  Madame. — Return  with  Prizes. — Expedition  to  Cape  Bre 
ton. — Wise  Counsel  of  Jones, — Brilliant  Naval  Campaign. — 
Saving  the  Prizes. — Value  of  the  Mellish. — Mission  to  France.- 
Disappointment. — Sails  with  the  Ranger. 

Captain  Jones  found  all  his  intelligence,  bravery 
and  nautical  skill  tested  to  the  utmost,  in  evading, 
thwarting,  and  struggling  against  the  British  men-of- 
war  swarming  around  him.  He  had  several  very 
fierce  rencontres  with  forces  superior  to  his  own.  One 
day  he  saw  a  foreign  vessel  (I  think  it  was  Spanish), 
coming  from  St.  Domingo,  with  a  cargo  of  military 
stores  for  the  colonies.  This  brigantine  was  hotly 
pursued  by  the  Cerberus,  a  British  man-of-war, 
The  thunders  of  her  bow-guns  echoed  over  the 
waves,  while  the  balls  of  sohd  shot,  ricochettin£ 
for  more  than  a  mile,  proclaimed  how  terrible  the 
bolts  which  those  thunders  sent  forth. 

The  courage  and  nautical  skill  of  Captain  Jonej- 
rescued  the  brigantine  and  her  precious  cargo.     The 


THE   INFANT  NAVY.  32 

vessel  was  afterwaid  purchased  by  Congress,  and 
nameG  the  Hampden.  He  was  then  ordered  to 
Boston,  whence  he  convoyed  some  merchant  vessels 
to  Philadelphia.  This  was  indeed  an  arduous  and 
perilous  mission.  The  war-ships  of  the  enemy  were 
daily  arriving  off  Sandy  Hook,  under  the  guidance  of 
Lord  Howe.  Captain  Jones  caught  sight  of  several 
of  these  ships,  which,  with  a  single  broadside,  could 
have  sunk  him.  But  he  had  the  address  to  avoid 
them.  On  the  8th  of  August,  1776,  he  received 
from  John  Hancock,  President  of  Congress,  his  com- 
mission as  captain.  It  contained  the  following 
words  : 

"John  Paul  Jones,  Esq. 

"  We,  reposing  especial  trust  and  confidence 
in  your  patriotism,  valor,  conduct,  and  fidelity,  do, 
by  these  presents,  constitute  and  appoint  you  to 
be  captain  in  the  navy  of  the  United  States,  fitted 
out  for  the  defence  of  American  liberty,  and  for  re- 
pelling every  hostile  invasion  thereof.  You  are 
therefore  carefully  and  diligently  to  discharge  the 
duty  of  captain,  by  doing  and  performing  all  manner 
of  things  thereunto  belonging.  And  we  do  strictly 
charge  and  require  all  ofificers.  marines,  and  seamen, 
under  your  command,  to  be  obedient  to  your  orders 
as  captain.'* 


54  PAUL  JONES- 

He  then  received  orders  to  set  out  on  a  cruise  ol 
two  or  three  months  against  the  navy  of  Great  Bri- 
tain. For  this  enterprise  he  was  furnished  with  the 
sloop  Providence,  which  mounted  twelve  guns,  and 
was  manned  by  but  seventy  sailors.  He  was  left 
entirely  to  his  own  discretion,  not  being  confined  to 
any  particular  station  or  service.  Captain  Jones 
sailed  from  Philadelphia,  on  this  chivalric  expedition, 
the  latter  part  of  August,  1776.  Not  far  from  the 
Island  of  Bermuda  he  encountered  a  British  frigate, 
the  Solway. 

It  was  like  the  fox  meeting  the  hound.  The 
only  safety  was  in  flight.  A  chase  took  place,  with 
a  constant  interchange  of  shot.  This  running  fight 
continued  for  six  hours.  Those  who  are  familiar 
with  nautical  affairs,  will  understand  the  bold  measure 
by  which  he  escaped.  He  gradually  edged  away 
until  he  brought  his  heavy  adversary  upon  his  wea- 
ther quarter.  Then,  putting  his  helm  suddenly  up, 
he  stood  dead  before  the  wind.  At  the  same  mo- 
ment he  threw  out  all  his  light  sails,  with  which  his 
little  sloop  was  abundantly  furnished.  This  man- 
oeuvre compelled  him  to  pass  \\  ithin  pistol-shot  of  his 
pursuer.  But  he  knew  that  he  could  sail  much  faster 
than  the  frigate,  before  the  wind. 

The  captain  of  the  Solway  was  quite  unprepared 
for  such  a  manoeuvre.     Before  he  could  change  his 


THE   INFANT  NAVV.  35 

course  to  imitate  it,  the  Providence  had  gained  such 
a  start  as  to  be  soon  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Sol- 
way's  guns.  Triumphantly  the  little  sloop  swept 
the  waves  until  the  discomfited  frigate  gave  up  the 
chase. 

Not  long  after  this,  as  Captain  Jones  was  lying 
to,  on  the  banks  near  the  Isle  of  Sables,  to  allow  his 
men  to  fish,  another  large  English  frigate  hove  in 
sight,  which  proved  to  be  the  Milford.  Though  he 
had  much  confidence  in  the  speed  of  his  light  little 
sloop,  which,  under  her  cloud  of  canvas,  could 
almost  like  a  bubble  skim  the  wave,  he  prudently 
tried  her  speed  with  that  of  the  gigantic  foe  ap. 
proaching.  Finding  that  he  could  easily  outstrip 
her,  he  tauntingly  allowed  the  Milford  to  approach 
to  nearly  within  gun-shot.  He  then  spread  his  sails, 
keeping  just  out  of  harm's  way. 

The  frigate  rounded  to  and  discharged  hei 
broadside.  The  shot  skipped  over  the  waves  and 
sank  at  some  distance  before  reaching  the  sloop. 
After  each  broadside,  Captain  Jones,  in  token  of  his 
contempt,  ordered  his  marine  officer  to  return  the 
6re,  by  the  discharge  of  a  single  musket.  He  kept 
up  this  burlesque  of  a  battle,  causing  the  friga*:e  to 
throw  away  her  ammunition,  from  ten  o'clock  in  the 
morning  till  sunset.  He  then  spread  all  sail  and 
went  unharmed  on  his  way. 


56  PAUL  JONES. 

The  next  morning  he  entered  the  Gut  of  Canso 
vvhich  separates  the  Island  of  Cape  Breton  from 
the  mainland.  He  found  three  English  schooners  in 
the  harbor  of  Canso.  He  burned  one,  and  sunk 
another,  after  having  filled  the  third,  a  schooner,  the 
Ebenezer,  with  what  fish  had  been  found  in  the 
other  two.  Here  he  learned  that  at  the  Island  of 
Madame,  near  by,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Bay  of 
Canso,  there  were  nine  British  vessels,  consisting  of 
brigs,  ships,  and  schooners.  He  sent  boats,  well 
armed,  to  destroy  them,  while  he  kept  off  and  on 
with  his  sloop,  ready  to  punish  severely  any  attempt 
to  rescue  the  shipping. 

The  enterprise  was  entirely  successful,  and,  a? 
no  opposition  was  made,  it  was  bloodless.  These 
vessels  had  transferred  their  cargoes  to  the  shore, 
and  were  unrigged.  It  would  take  some  time  to  fit 
them  for  sea.  Despatch  was  of  the  utmost  impor 
tance.  Captain  Jones  humanely,  and  very  wisdy, 
informed  the  crews  of  these  vessels,  that  if  they 
would  cordially  assist  him  in  rigging  and  fitting  out 
such  vessels  as  he  required,  he  would  leave  them 
vessels  sufficient  to  cross  the  Atlantic  to  their  own 
homes. 

Though  the  British  officers  were  generally  very 
bitter  in  their  hostility  to  the  colonial  cause,  it  was 
not  so  with  the  masses  of  the  English  people.    There 


THE  INFANT  NAVY.  37 

was  in  their  hearts  an  underlying  feeling  of  sympa- 
thy with  the  brave  colonists  who  were  struggling 
against  intolerable  oppression.  These  English  sail- 
ors, therefore,  heartily  joined  their  American  bro- 
thers, and  assisted,  with  the  utmost  energy,  until  the 
business  was  accomplished. 

On  the  evening  of  September  25th,  a  violent 
tempest  arose,  with  deluging  rain.  Captain  Jones 
was  compelled  to  cast  anchor  at  the  entrance  of  the 
harbor,  where,  with  both  his  anchors  and  whole 
cables  ahead,  he  with  difficulty  rode  out  the  storm. 
One  of  the  prize  ships,  the  Alexander,  which  was 
just  ready  for  sea,  anchored  under  the  shelter  of  a 
projecting  point  of  rocks,  and  thus  narrowly  escaped 
destruction.  Another  of  the  prizes,  a  schooner, 
called  the  Sea-Flower,  with  a  valuable  cargo,  was 
torn  from  her  moorings  and  driven  ashore,  a  total 
wreck.  As  she  could  not  be  got  off  the  next  day, 
she  was  set  on  fire.  The  schooner  Ebenezer,  which 
he  had  brought  from  Canso,  laden  with  fish,  was 
driven  on  a  reef  of  sunken  rocks,  and  totally  lost. 
With  great  difficulty  the  crew  saved  themselves  on 
a  raft. 

Toward  noon  of  the  26th  this  fierce  gale  began 
to  abate.  The  British  ship  Adventure  he  burned  in 
the   harbor.     He  then  put  to  sea,  taking  with  hiw 


38  PAUL  JONES. 

three  heavily  laden  prizes,  the  ship  Alexander,  and 
the  brigantines  Kingston  and  Success. 

The  fishery  at  Canso  and  Madame  he  thus  efTec 
tually  destroyed.  He  left  behind  him  two  smail 
schooners  and  one  brig,  to  convey  the  British  sea- 
men, about  three  hundred  in  number,  back  to  thev 
homes.  He  said,  **  Had  I  not  done  this,  I  should 
have  stood  chargeable  with  inhumanity." 

This  bold  enterprise  was  indeed  bearding  th« 
lion  in  his  den.  It  woke  up  the  British  Govern 
ment  to  a  new  sense  of  the  vigor  of  that  worm  which 
it  supposed  was  squirming  helples^^ly  beneath  its  feet. 
It  taught  the  proud  Court  of  St.  James  that  in  war 
there  were  blows  to  be  received  as  well  as  blows 
to  be  given.  These  acts  seem  cruel.  But  *  war," 
says  General  Sherman,  **  is  cruelty.  You  cannot  re- 
fine it." 

While  England  was  wantonly  laying  our  villages 
in  ashes,  and  driving  women  and  children  in  home- 
lessness  and  starvation  into  the  fields,  Captain  Jones 
spared  all  private  property  on  the  land.  He  only 
seiz.ed  or  consigned  to  destruction  that  private  pro- 
perty afloat,  which  the  code  of  war  England  her- 
self had  established,  pronounced  to  be  lawful  booty. 
England,  proud  mistress  of  the  seas,  supposed  that 
she,  with  her  invincible  navy,  could  plunder  the 
commerce  of  all  nations,  and  that  she  had  nothing  to 


THE  INFANT  NAVY.  3^ 

fear  in  the  way  of  retaliation.  It  must  have  been  to 
her  indeed  a  surprise  to  find  the  shipping  in  her 
own  harbors  plundered  and  blazing. 

Captain  Jones  felt  the  necessity  of  the  utmost 
possible  expedition.  He  had  learned  that  there  was 
ar  English  war-brig,  of  powerful  armament,  within 
forty-five  miles  of  him  to  the  southward.  This  for- 
midable antagonist  might,  at  any  hour,  loom  in  sight. 
As  <-he  little  fleet  was  crowding  along  under  full 
sail  making  all  haste,  on  the  morning  of  the  27th, 
two  sails  were  discerned  in  the  distant  horizon. 
There  could  be  no  doubt  that  they  were  English 
vessels.  Perilous  as  Captain  Jones's  situation  was, 
he  could  not  resist  the  temptation  to  give  them 
chase. 

He  therefore  signalled  his  prizes  to  rendezvous 
on  the  southwest  part  of  the  Isle  of  Sables,  and  wait 
for  him  there  three  days,  should  he  not  sooner 
appear.  He  then  spread  all  sail  in  pursuit  of  the 
•trangers.  They  also  spread  evety  inch  of  canvas 
they  could  command,  and  before  they  could  be 
overtaken  ran  into  the  harbor  of  Louisbourg.  There 
was  reason  to  suppose  that  there  were  several  British 
men-of-war  there.  Captain  Jones  therefore  returned 
to  his  prizes  at  the  rendezvous,  and  again  all  pressed 
forward  on  their  homeward  voyage. 

In   this   cruise^  which  lasted  but  six  weeks  and 


40  PAUL  JONES. 

five  days,  Captain  Jones  captured  sixteen  priiet, 
besides  the  vessels  which  he  destroyed  in  the  har- 
bors of  Canso  and  Madame.  Of  these  prizes,  eight 
he  manned  and  sent  into  port.  The  remainder  were 
burned.  Captain  Jones  returned  to  Newport,  Rhode 
Island,  where  the  commander-in-chief  of  our  little 
navy  had  established  his  headquarters. 

The  British  officers  were  treating  the  captives 
Aey  had  taken  from  the  Americans,  with  the  great- 
est brutality.  They  had  driven  one  hundred  prison- 
ers into  the  coal  mines  of  Cape  Breton,  where  they 
were  forced  to  labor  like  slaves.  This  procedure 
greatly  outraged  Captain  Jones's  sense  of  humanity 
and  justice.  He  suggested  that  an  expedition  should 
be  fitted  out  for  their  release  ;  and  also,  as  far  aa 
possible,  to  destroy  England's  coal  fleet  and  her  fish- 
ing fleet.  The  plan  was  approved  of.  For  the 
accomplishment  of  this  important  enterprise  he  was 
allowed  to  fit  out  two  vessels,  the  Alfred  and  the 
Providence.  The  whole  burden  and  responsibility 
of  the  preparations  rested  upon  him.  He  took  com- 
mand of  the  Alfred,  committing  the  Providence 
to  Captain  Hacker.  He  found  but  thirty  men  on 
board  the  Alfred,  and  with  great  difficulty  succeeded 
in  enlisting  thirty  more.  When  the  Alfred  entered 
the  harbor  at  Newport  from  Philadelphia,  a  few 
irceks  before,  she  had  two  hundred  and  thirty-five 


THE   INFANT  NAVY.  4] 

men  on  her  muster-roll.  Captain  Jones,  in  a  letter 
to  Hon.  Robert  Morris,  explained  the  cause  of  this 
singular  desertion,  and  proposed  a  remedy. 

"  It  seems  to  me,"  he  writes,  '*  that  the  priva- 
teers entice  the  men  away  as  fast  as  they  receive 
their  month's  pay.  It  is  to  the  last  degree  distress- 
ing to  contemplate  the  state  and  establishment  of 
our  navy.  The  common  class  of  mankind  are  ani- 
mated by  no  nobler  principle  than  that  of  self-in- 
.crest.  This,  and  this  alone,  determines  all  adven- 
turers in  privateers;  the  owners,  as  well  as  those 
whom  they  employ. 

"  And  while  this  is  the  case,  unless  the  private 
emolument  of  individuals  in  our  navy  is  made  supe- 
rior to  that  in  privateers,  it  never  can  become  respect- 
able ;  it  never  will  become  formidable.  And  with- 
out a  respectable  navy,  alas,  America  !  In  the  pres- 
ent critical  situation  of  affairs,  human  wisdom  car 
suggest  no  more  than  one  infallible  expedient . 
enlist  the  seamen  during  pleasure,  and  give  them  a/l 
th^  prizes. 

"  What  is  the  paltry  emolument  of  two-thirds  of 
prizes  to  this  vast  continent.*  If  so  poor  a  resource 
is  essential  to  its  independency,  we  are,  in  sobei 
sadness,  involved   in  a  woful  predicament,  and  oui 

*  Congress   appropriated  two-thirds  of  all  prii«  to  the  Govert- 
BtoBt,  leaving  but  one-third  to  be  divided  among  the  captors. 


42  PAUL  JONES. 

ruin  is  fast  approaching.  The  situation  of  America 
is  new  in  the  annals  of  mankind.  Her  affaiis  cry 
haste ;  and  speed  must  answer  them.  Trifles  there- 
fore ought  to  be  wholly  disregarded,  as  being,  in  the 
old  vulgar  proverb,  *  penny  wise  and  pound  foolish. 

"  If  our  enemies,  v/ith  the  best  established  and 
most  formidable  navy  in  the  universe,  have  found  it 
expedient  to  assign  all  prizes  to  the  captors,  how 
much  more  is  such  policy  essential  to  our  infant 
fleet  ?  But  I  need  use  no  arguments  to  convince 
you  of  the  necessity  of  making  our  navy  equal,  if  not 
superior  to  theirs." 

Our  navy  was  so  small  and  our  impoverishment 
so  great  that  Congress  could  furnish  Captain  Jones 
with  but  two  vessels  for  his  important  expedition  to 
Cape  Breton.  The  Alfred  and  the  Providence  sailed 
together  from  Newport  harbor,  on  the  2d  of  Novem- 
ber, 1776.  This  was  so  late  in  the  season,  to  embart 
for  those  high  latitudes,  that  Captain  Jones,  discour 
aged  by  the  delays  which  had  been  encountered,  w*'' 
not  very  sanguine  as  to  the  success  of  the  expedi 
tion. 

The  first  night  he  cast  anchor  at  Tarpauling 
Cove,  near  Nantucket.  Here  he  found  a  privateer 
belonging  to  Rhode  Island,  inward  bound.  He  was 
in  great  want  of  men.  Many  sailors,  for  reasons 
which  we  have  already  given,  had  deserted  the  rev^u- 


THE  INFANT  NAVY.  4| 

lar  service  to  enlist  on  board  the  privateers.  Cap- 
tain Jones  sent  his  boat  on  board  the  privateer  to 
search  for  deserters  from  the  navy.  Four  men  were 
found,  carefully  concealed.  They  were  taken  on 
board  the  Alfred.  This  led  to  a  law-suit,  which  sub- 
sequently subjected  Captain  Jones  to  considerable 
trouble.  Louisbourg,  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the 
Island  of  Cape  Breton,  had  a  commodious  harbor,  and 
was  then  a  seaport  of  considerable  importance.  Just 
off  the  harbor  Captain  Jones  fortunately  encountered 
an  English  brig,  the  MeUish,  partially  armed,  and 
laden  with  a  large  amount  of  clothing,  thick  and 
warm,  for  the  British  troops  in  Canada.  The  brig 
made  a  little  resistance,  but  was  speedily  captured, 
with  all  her  precious  cargo.  Soon  after  this  he  cap- 
tured a  large  fishing-vessel,  which  quite  replenished 
his  meagre  store  of  provisions. 

The  next  day  a  violent  snow-storm  darkened  the 
air,  with  a  severe  gale  blowing  from  the  northwest 
Captain  Hacker,  in  command  of  the  Providence, 
either  frightened  by  the  inclement  weather  or  trea- 
sonably disposed,  took  advantage  of  the  darkness  of 
the  ensuing  night  to  bear  away  south,  and  return  to 
Newport.  The  Alfred  was  thus  left  alone  to  prose- 
cute the  now  impossible  enterprise. 

Captain  Jones  sent  his  two  prizes,  the  brig  Mellish 
and    the  fishing-vessel,  to  steer  for  any  American 


44  PAUL  JONES 

port  which  could  be  reached.  The  fishing-vessel 
was  recaptured  by  the  English.  But  the  Mellish 
was  successfully  carried  into  the  harbor  of  Dartmouth 
Massachusetts.  The  clothing,  with  which  she  was 
lader,  proved  to  be  of  incalculable  use  to  the  army 
of  Washington.  The  Continental  troops,  thinly  clad, 
had  been  suffering  severel)  from  the  freezing  blasts 
of  winter. 

In  the  midst  of  smothering  snow-storms  and 
fierce  gales,  Captain  Jones  again  entered  the  harbor 
of  Canso.  A  large  English  transport,  laden  with 
provisions,  was  aground,  near  the  entrance  to  the 
harbor.  He  sent  his  boats  to  apply  the  torch.  The 
whole  fabric,  with  all  its  contents,  soon  vanished  in 
flame  and  smoke.  A  large  oil  warehouse,  contain- 
ing  a  large  quantity  of  materi?!  for  the  whale  and 
cod  fishery,  was  also  consigned  to  consuming  fire. 
He  then  continued  his  voyage  along  the  eastern 
coast  of  Cape  Breton. 

In  a  dense  fog,  not  far  from  Louisbourg,  he  fell  in 
with  quite  a  fleet  of  coal  vessels,  from  the  crown 
mines  in  Sydney,  under  convoy  of  the  English  fri 
gate  Flora.  Favored  by  the  fog,  and  unseen  by  the 
frigate,  he  captured  three  of  the  largest  of  these  ves- 
sels. Two  days  after  this  he  encountered  a  British 
privateer  from  Liverpool,  which  he  took,  after  but  a 
slight  conflict.     Thick  masses  of  ice  filled  the  harboi 


THE  INFANT  NAVY.  45 

adjacent  to  the  coal  mines.  He  had  one  hundred 
and  fifty  prisoners  on  board  the  Alfred.  His  water. 
casks  were  nearly  empty,  and  his  provisions  mostly 
consumed.  Five  prize  vessels  were  in  his  train.  It 
was  clearly  his  duty  to  convoy  them,  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, into  some  safe  port.  He  therefore  commenced 
his  return. 

The  httle  fleet  kept  together,  guarded  by  the 
Alfred,  and  the  Liverpool  privateer,  which,  being 
armed  for  battle.  Captain  Jones  had  manned  and 
given  into  the  charge  of  Lieutenant  Saunders.  Just 
on  the  edge  of  St.  George's  Bank,  the  British  fri- 
gate Milford  was  again  encountered.  It  was  late  in 
the  afternoon  when  her  topsails  first  appeared  above 
the  horizon.  All  the  vessels  of  Captain  Jones's  fleet 
were  on  the  starboard  tack.  It  was  evident  that,  as 
the  wind  was  then,  the  Milford  could  not  overtake 
them  before  night,  which  was  close  at  hand.  He 
signalled  his  vessels  to  crowd  with  all  sail,  on  the 
same  tack,  through  the  night,  without  paying  any 
regard  to  the  lights  which  he  might  show. 

After  dark  both  he  and  the  captured  privateer 
tackeJ,  and  thus  entered  upon  a  different  course 
from  that  of  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  To  decoy  the 
frigate  to  follow  him,  and  thus  draw  it  away  from 
the  prizes,  he  carried  toplights  until  the  morning 
The  Milford  gave  him  hot  chase.     When  the  morn- 


46  PAUL  JONES. 

ing  light  dawned  upon  the  ocean  the  prizes  were  n 
where  to  be  seen.  The  stratagem  had  thus  f » 
proved  eminently  successful.  All  that  now  remain- 
ed for  Captain  Jones  was  to  make  his  own  escape 
with  the  Alfred,  and  the  privateer  under  Lieutenant 
Saunders.  The  privateer,  through  mismanagement, 
was  overtaken  and  captured.  A  terrible  storm 
which  had  been  for  some  time  brewing,  in  the  after 
noon  lashed  the  ocean,  and  amid  clouds  and  dark 
ness  and  foaming  surges  the  Alfred  made  her  es- 
cape. 

On  the  15  th  of  December,  1776,  Captain  Joi.ew 
entered  the  harbor  of  Boston.  He  had  then,  or 
board  the  Alfred,  provisions  and  water  barely  suffi- 
cient for  two  days.  To  his  great  gratification  he 
found  that  his  prizes  had  all  safely  reached  port. 
The  welcome  news  of  the  capture  of  the  cargo  of 
clothing,  in  the  Mellish,  reached  Washington  just 
before  he  recrossed  the  Delaware  and  captured  the 
British  garrison  at  Trenton.  Captain  Jones,  in  his 
letter  to  the  Marine  Committee,  writer ; 

'*  This  prize  is,  I  believe,  the  most  valuable  which 
has  been  taken  by  the  American  arms.  She  made 
some  defence,  but  it  was  trifling.  The  loss  will  dis- 
tress the  enemy  more  than  can  be  easily  imagined, 
OS  the  clothing  on  board  of  her  is  the  last  intended 
to  be  sent  out  for  Canada  this  season,  and  what  ha> 


THfc  INFANT  NAVY.  47 

preceded  it  is  already  taken.  The  situation  ol  Bur- 
goyne's  army  must  soon  become  insupportable/ 

Captain  Jones  was  so  impressed  with  the  impor- 
tance of  this  capture  that  he  had  resolved,  at  every 
hazard,  to  sink  the  vessel  rather  than  permit  it 
again  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  He  was 
delayed  some  time  in  Boston  in  disposing  of  his 
prizes  and  in  getting  rid  of  his  prisoners,  or,  as  he 
phrases  it,  of  being  delivered  of  the  "  honorable 
office  of  a  jail-keeper.'* 

He  passed  the  winter  in  Boston,  consecrating  all 
his  energies  to  the  creation  of  a  navy  worthy  of  the 
rising  republic.  Though  his  feelings  were  deeply 
wounded,  and  his  sense  of  justice  greatly  outraged,  by 
being,  for  political  reasons,  superseded  in  command 
by  men  who  were  totally  unqualified  for  naval  office, 
and  who  had  never  yet  served,  he  did  not  allow 
these  considerations,  though  he  remonstrated  indig- 
nantly against  the  unjust  acts,  to  abate,  in  the  slight- 
est degree,  his  patriotic  zeal.  The  suggestions  he 
made  the  Marine  Committee  have  so  commended 
themselves  to  the  judgment  of  those  in  command 
that  nearly  all  of  them  have  been  gradually  adopted. 
A  few  extracts  from  these  long  communications  will 
reflect  much  light  upon  the  character  of  this  remark- 
able man. 

**  None  other,"  he  writes,  "  than  a  gentleman,  a« 


48  PAUL  JONES. 

well  as  a  seaman  in  theory  and  practice,  is  qualified 
to  support  the  character  of  an  officer  in  the  navy. 
Nor  is  any  man  fit  to  command  a  ship  of  war,  who 
is  not  capable  of  communicating  his  ideas  on  paper, 
in  language  that  becomes  his  rank." 

Again  he  writes,  in  reference  to  the  great  injustice 
which  he  had  experienced,  "  When  I  entered  into  the 
service  I  was  not  actuated  by  motives  of  self-interest. 
I  stepped  forth  as  a  free  citizen  of  the  world,  in 
defence  of  the  violated  rights  of  mankind,  and  not 
in  search  of  riches,  whereof,  I  thank  God,  I  inherit  a 
sufficiency.  But  I  should  prove  my  degeneracy  were 
I  not,  in  the  highest  degree,  tenacious  of  my  rank 
and  seniority.  As  a  gentleman  I  can  yield  this  point 
only  to  persons  of  superior  abilities  and  merit.  Un- 
der such  persons  it  would  be  my  highest  ambition  to 
learn." 

Again  he  wrote  to  Hon.  Mr.  Morris:  "As  the 
regulations  of  the  navy  are  of  the  utmost  conse- 
quence, you  will  not  think  it  presumption  if,  with  the 
utmost  diffidence,  I  venture  to  communicate  to  you 
such  hints  as,  in  my  judgment,  will  promote  its  honor 
and  good  government.  I  could  heartily  wish  that 
every  commissioned  officer  was  to  be  previously  exam- 
ined. To  my  certain  knov/ledge  there  are  persons 
who  have   alread)-  crept  into  commission,  without 


THE  INFANT  NAVY.  49 

abilities  or  fit  qualification.  I  am,  myself,  far  from 
desiring  to  be  excused." 

After  a  toilsome  winter  of  many  annoyances  he 
repaired  early  in  April,  1777,  to  Philadelphia,  then 
the  seat  of  the  Colonial  Government.  Prominent 
members  of  Congress,  when  their  attention  was  called 
to  the  subject,  admitted  that  Captain  Jones  had  been 
wrongfully  treated.  Mr.  Hancock,  President  of 
Congress,  assured  him  that  the  injustice  of  supersed- 
ing him  was  not  intentional,  but  was  the  result  of  a 
multiplicity  of  business.     He  said  to  him: 

*'  The  injustice  of  that  regulation  shall  make  but 
a  nominal  and  temporary  difference.  In  the  mean 
time  you  may  be  assured  that  no  nav>'  officer  stands 
higher  in  the  opinion  of  Congress.  The  matter  of 
rank  shall,  as  soon  as  possible,  be  arranged.  In  the 
mean  time  you  shall  have  a  separate  command,  until 
better  provision  can  he  made  for  you." 

Captain  Jones  urged  that  there  should  be  a 
parity  of  rank  between  the  officers  of  the  nav>'  and 
the  army.  He  proposed  that,  in  accordance  with  the 
British  establishment,  which  was  certainly  the  best 
regulated  navy  in  the  world,  an  admiral  should  ranV 
with  a  general,  a  vice-admiral  with  a  lieutenant- 
general,  a  rear-admiral  with  a  major-general,  a 
commodore  with  a  brigadier-general,  a  captain  with 
%  colonel,  a  maste*  and  commander  with  a  Heutenant. 


50  PAUL  JONES. 

colonel,  a  lieutenant  commanding  with  a  major  and 
a  lieutenant  in  the  navy  with  a  captain  of  horse,  foot, 
or  marines. 

He  also  urged  strenuously,  as  an  object  demand 
ing  immediate  attention,  that  commissioneis  of 
dock  yards  should  be  established  to  superintend  the 
building  and  outfit  of  all  ships  of  war.  They  were 
to  be  invested  with  power  to  appoint  deputies,  and 
to  provide  and  keep  in  constant  readiness  all  naval 
stores.  It  speaks  well  for  the  intelligence  and  sound 
judgment  of  Captain  Jones  that,  though  he  was  a 
young  officer  of  but  one  year's  standing,  nearly  eveiy 
suggesticHi  he  made  was  subsequently  adopted. 

Soon  after  this  he  received  an  appointment  from 
the  Marine  Committee,  to  sail  from  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  in  the  French  ship  Amphitrite,  to 
France,  with  a  letter  to  the  American  Commissioners 
there,  ordering  them  to  purchase  as  fine  a  ship  as 
could  be  obtained  in  Europe,  for  Captain  Jones. 
He  was  to  take  out  a  crew  with  him,  to  man  the 
ship,  from  Portsmouth.  The  letter  the  Marine  Com^ 
mittee  wrote  to  the  Commissioners  was  very  urgent^ 
calling  upon  them  to  strain  every  nerve  to  accom- 
plish the  end  as  soon  as  possible. 

**  We  hope,"  they  wrote,  "  you  may  not  delay 
this  business  one  moment ;  but  purchase,  in  such 
port  or  place  in  Europe  as  it  can  be  done  with  most 


THE   INFANT   NAVY.  5 1 

ronvenience  and  despatch,  a  fine  fast-sailing  frigate 
ar  larger  ship.  You  must  make  it  a  point  not  to 
disappoint  Captain  Jones's  wishes  and  expectations 
Dii  this  occasion." 

On  the  14th  of  June,  1777,  Congress  established 
the  national  flag.  It  was  voted  "  that  the  flag  of 
the  United  States  should  be  thirteen  stripes,  alter- 
nate red  and  white;  that  the  Union  be  thirteen 
stars,  white,  in  a  blue  field,  representing  a  new  con- 
stellation." 

The  French  commander  of  the  Amphitrite,  not- 
withstanding the  sympathies  of  France  were  then  so 
cordially  with  the  colonies,  very  reasonably  objected 
to  taking  a  step  so  decidedly  belligerent  as  to  trans- 
port a  crew  to  France,  to  engage  in  direct  hostilities 
against  English  commerce.  The  plan  therefore  had 
to  be  abandoned.  England  and  France  were  then 
at  peace.  Soon,  however,  war  commenced  between 
them. 

Congress  then  appointed  Jones  to  the  command 
of  the  ship  Ranger,  which  had  recently  been  built  in 
Portsmouth.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  this  our 
first  frigate,  on  the  same  day  when  Congress  desig- 
nated the  Stars  and  the  Stripes  as  our  national  flag. 
Consequently  Paul  Jones,  who  first  unfurled  the  ban- 
ner of  the  Pine  Tree,  over  the  little  sloop  Providence, 
now  enjoyed  the  distinguished  honor  of  being  the 


52  PAUL  JONES 

first  to  spread  to  the   breeze  that  beautiful  banne\ 
the  Stars  and  the  Stripes,  now  renowned  throughout 
the  world,  and  around  whose  folds  more  than  forty 
millions  of  freemen  are  ever  ready,  with  enthusiasm, 
to  rally. 

The  Ranger  was  not  prepared  for  sea  until  the 
middle  of  October.  The  ship  mounted  but  eighteen 
guns,  though  originally  intended  for  twenty-six. 
She  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  on 
the  1st  of  November,  1777,  and,  after  a  month's  voy- 
age, entered  the  harbor  of  Nantes  on  the  2d  of 
December.  This  noble  city,  situated  on  the  river 
Loire,  about  thirty-four  miles  from  its  mouth,  and 
two  hundred  miles  from  Paris,  was  then  one  of  the 
most  important  seaports  in  France.  Ships  of  two 
hundred  tons  burden  could  cast  anchor  ir  the  broad, 
clear,  deep  river.  An  immense  amout  of  shipping 
crowded  her  quays,  one  of  which  was  a  mile  and  a 
half  in  length. 

On  the  voyage,  soon  after  passing  the  Western 
Islands,  he  encountered  many  vessels,  but  non« 
which  proved  to  be  English,  until  he  was  approach- 
ing the  Channel.  He  then  overtook  a  fleet  of  ten 
British  vessels,  under  a  strong  convoy.  Captain 
Jones  exerted  all  his  nautical  skill  to  detach  some 
of  these  from  the  convoy,  but  was  unable  to  succeed 
He,  however,  soon  captured  two  brigan tines,  or  smal- 


THE   INFANl    NAVY.  5] 

brigs,  laden  with  fruit  from  Malaga,  bound  to  Lon- 
don.   Both  of  these  prizes  he  sent  into  French  ports. 

Upon  his  arrival  at  Nantes,  he  forwarded  the  let- 
ter which  he  had  received  from  the  Marine  Commit 
tee  of  Congress,  to  the  American  Commissioners  at 
Paris,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Silas  Deane,  and  Arthur 
Lee.     In  this  letter,  Captain  Jones  writes  : 

**  It  is  my  first  and  favorite  wish  to  be  employed 
in  active  and  enterprising  service,  where  there  is  a 
prospect  of  rendering  acceptable  services  to  America. 
The  singular  honor  which  Congress  has  done  me,  by 
their  generous  conduct,  has  inspired  sentiments  of 
gratitude  which  I  shall  carry  with  me  to  the  grave 
And  if  a  life  of  services  devoted  to  America,  can 
be  made  instrumental  in  securing  its  independence, 
I  shall  regard  the  continuance  of  such  approbation 
as  an  honor  far  superior  to  what  kings  even  could 
bestow." 

He  urged  that  since  our  navy  was  so  feeble  that 
it  could  not  cope  with  the  powerful  armament  of 
England,  our  only  feasible  course  was  to  send  out 
small  squadrons,  and  surprise  defenceless  situations 
This  was  the  course  adopted.  By  invitation  of  the 
Commissioners,  Captain  Jones  repaired  to  Paris, 
where  he  met  with  a  severe  disappointment.  This 
is  explained  in  the  following  extract  from  his  first 
despatch  from  Nantes 


$4  PAUL   JONES. 

"  The  Commissioners  had  provided  for  me  one  o< 
the  finest  frigates  that  was  ever  built,  calculated  foi 
thirty  guns  on  one  deck,  and  capable  of  carrying 
thirty-six  pounders.  But  they  were  under  the  neces- 
sity of  giving  her  up,  on  account  of  some  difficulties 
they  met  at  court." 

The  failure  of  this  plan  was  owing  to  the  vigilance 
of  the  British  minister  at  Amsterdam.  He  discov- 
ered the  secret  of  her  ownership  and  destination,  and 
remonstrated  so  effectually  as  to  thwart  the  plan. 
He  then  decided  to  put  to  sea  with  the  Ranger,  as 
soon  as  possible.  The  Commissioners  addressed  to 
him  the  following  instructions  : 

"  As  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  procure  you  such  a 
ship  as  you  expected,  we  advise  you,  after  equipping 
the  Ranger  in  the  best  manner  for  the  cruise  you 
propose,  that  you  shall  proceed  with  her  in  the 
manner  you  shall  judge  best  for  distressing  the  ene- 
mies of  the  United  States,  by  sea  or  otherwise,  con- 
sistent with  the  laws  of  war,  and  the  terms  of  your 
commission." 

On  the  loth  of  Feburary,  1778,  Captain  Jones, 
in  the  Ranger,  sailed  down  the  Loire,  and  ooasted 
along  in  a  northerly  direction  to  Brest,  thea  the 
great  naval  depot  of  France,  enjoying  one  of  the 
finest  harbors  in  the  world.  In  this  month  a  treaty 
ti  alliance  between  France  and  the  United  States 


THE  INFANT  NAVY,  55 

was  signed  at  Paris.  France  was  the  first  nation  to 
recognize  the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
and  to  recognize  the  Congress  of  the  thirteen  colonies 
as  a  legitimate  Government. 

France  promptly  engaged  in  fitting  out  a  naval 
expedition  to  assist  the  Amencan  colonies. 


CHAPTEK  nh 

Bearding  the  British  Lion, 

J^  frosn  France. — Plan  for  the  Destruction  of  the  British  f  Icet— 
The  American  Flag  Saluted. — Bold  Movement  of  Captain  Jones 
— Cruise  along  the  Shores  of  England. — Capture  of  Prizes. — 
Salutary  Lessons  given  to  England. — Operations  in  the  Frith  of 
Clyde. — At  Carrickfergus. — Attempt  upon  the  Drake. — Burning 
the  Shipping  at  Whitehaven. —  Capture  of  the  Plate  of  Lord 
Selkirk. 

France,  upon  recognizing  the  independence  of 
the  United  States  and  entering  into  an  alliance  with 
our  Government,  promptly  engaged  in  fitting  out  a 
naval  expedition  to  assist  the  American  patriots  who 
were  so  heroically  struggling  for  freedom.  Captain 
Jones  immediately  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Commission- 
ers in  Paris,  suggesting  a  plan  of  operations  for  the 
French  fleet,  which  was  placed  under  the  command 
of  Count  d'Estaing.  The  count  was  a  brave  man,  an 
able  officer,  and  was  heartily  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
the  feeble  colonies.  The  plan  Captain  Jones  recom- 
mended was  eventually  adopted.  Had  it  been  at 
once  carried  into  execution,  it  would  probably  have 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH   LION.  57 

SO  crippled  the  English  as  to  have  brought  the  war 
to  a  speedy  termination. 

Nearly  the  whole  British  fleet,  sent  to  operate 
against  the  colonies,  was  in  the  Delaware.  It  had 
abundant  supplies  for  the  British  army,  which,  almost 
without  hindrance,  was  ranging  the  countiy,  plun- 
dering and  burning.  The  plan  proposed  was,  that 
Count  d'Estaing,  with  the  superior  force  which  he 
had  under  his  command,  should  fall  suddenly  upon 
the  British  fleet  under  Lord  Howe,  and  destroy  it, 
or,  at  least  block  it  up  in  the  Delaware,  with  all  the 
transport  ships  under  its  convoy.  This  could  then 
have  easily  been  done. 

But  unfortunately  the  fleet,  instead  of  being  fitted 
out  at  Brest,  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  whence  it  could 
have  a  speedy  voyage  across  the  Atlantic,  was  got 
ready  at  Toulon,  a  Mediterranean  port,  requiring  a 
much  longer  voyage.  Just  before  the  fleet  arrived, 
Lord  Howe,  aware  of  his  danger,  had  effected  his 
escape.  In  those  days  the  French  fleet  could  have 
arrived  almost  as  soon  as  the  intelligence  of  the  alli- 
ance had  reached  these  shores.  In  a  letter  to  M. 
De  Sartine,  the  French  Minister  of  Marine,  Captain 
Jones  subsequently  writes: 

"  Had  Count  d'Estaing  arrived  in  the  Delaware  a 
few  days  sooner,  he  might  have  made  a  glorious  and 
most  easy  conquest.  Many  successful  projects  may 
3* 


^  PAUL  JONES 

he  adopted  from  the  hints  which  I  had  the  honoi 
to  draw  up.  And  if  I  can  furnish  more,  or  execute 
any  of  those  already  furnished,  so  as  to  distress  and 
humble  the  common  enemy,  it  will  afford  me  the 
''ruest  pleasure." 

Captain  Jones,  on  his  voyage  from  Nantes  to 
5rest,  convoyed  some  American  merchant  vessels 
?<s  far  as  Quiberon  Bay.  Thence  they  were  to  be 
^;onvoyed  to  America  by  a  French  fleet,  commanded 
■>y  Admiral  La  Motte  Piquet.  Here,  for  the  first 
'  ime,  the  Stars  and  Stripes  of  our  Union  received 
♦he  honor  of  a  national  salute.  John  Paul  Jones 
managed  the  somewhat  delicate  affair  with  the 
instincts  of  a  gentleman,  and  the  sensitiveness  of  an 
accomplished  naval  officer,  conscious  that  the  honor 
of  the  infant  nation  was,  in  some  degree,  intrusted 
to  his  guardianship.  I  give  the  interesting  event  in 
his  own  words.  In  a  letter  to  the  Marine  Com- 
mittee, dated  February  22,  1778,  he  writes  : 

"  I  am  happy  in  having  it  in  my  power  to  con- 
gratulate you  on  my  having  seen  the  American  flag, 
for  the  first  time,  recognized  in  the  fullest  and  com- 
pletest  manner  by  the  flag  of  France.  I  was  off  their 
bay  the  13th  instant,  and  sent  my  boat  in,  the  next 
day,  to  know  if  the  admiral  would  return  my  salute. 
He  answered  that  he  would  return  to  me,  as  the 
•enior  American  Continental  officer  in  Europe,  the 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH   LION  5( 

same  salute  which  he  was  authorized,  by  his  court 
to  return  to  an  admiral  of  Holland,  or  any  othe( 
republic;  which  was  four  guns  less  than  the  salut< 
given.  I  hesitated  at  this,  for  I  had  demanded  guj 
for  gun. 

"  Therefore  I  anchored  in  the  entrance  of  the 
bay,  at  a  distance  from  the  French  fleet.  But,  aftei 
a  very  particular  inquiry,  on  the  14th,  finding  thai 
he  had  really  told  the  truth,  I  was  induced  to  accept 
of  his  offer,  the  more  so  as  it  was,  in  fact,  an 
acknowledgment  of  American  independence.  The 
wind  being  contraiy  and  blowing  hard,  it  was  after 
sunset  before  the  Ranger  got  near  enough  to  saiut« 
La  Motte  Piquet  with  thirteen  guns,  which  he  re- 
turned  with  nine.  However,  to  put  the  mattei 
beyond  a  doubt,  I  did  not  suffer  the  Independence 
to  salute  till  next  morning,  when  I  sent  the  admiral 
word  that  I  would  sail  through  his  fleet  in  the  brig 
and  would  salute  him  in  open  day.  He  was  exceed 
ingly  pleased,  and  he  returned  the  compliment  alsi 
with  nine  guns.'* 

The  Independence  here  alluded  to,  it  is  said 
was  a  privateer  which  had  been  fitted  out  to  sat 
andei  the  orders  of  Captain  Jones.  His  sailing 
through  the  French  fleet  was  characteristic  of  the 
man,  as  he  fully  appreciated,  at  this  time,  the  inci- 
portance  of  this  interchange  of  national  courtesies 


OO  FAUL  JONES. 

and  the  importance  that  it  should  be  so  emphatic- 
illy  done  that  there  could  be  no  denial  of  it.  Thus 
he  who  first  raised  the  American  Pine-Tree  flag  to 
the  topmast  of  the  Alfred,  and  who  first  unfurled 
the  national  banner  from  the  Ranger,  now  enjoyed 
the  honor  of  being  the  first  to  secure  for  that  flag 
a  national  salute.  The  times  have  changed.  The 
infant  republic  has  become  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful nations  on  the  globe.  There  is  no  Government 
now  which  hesitates  to  return,  in  salute  of  our 
national  banner,  gun  for  gun, 

On  the  loth  of  April,  Captain  Jones,  in  the  Ran- 
ger, sailed  from  Brest.  It  was  his  intention  to  strike 
a  blow  first  upon  some  unprotected  point  on  the 
south  side  of  England.  It  was  indeed  a  bold  and 
chivalric  movement  for  the  little  Ranger,  with  her 
eighteen  guns,  to  plunge  into  the  very  heart  of  the 
British  Channel,  which  was  crowded  with  the  mas- 
sive seventy-fours  of  Britain's  proud  navy.  England 
was  discharging  the  broadsides  of  her  invincible  fleet 
upon  our  defenceless  towns,  and  was  landing  her  boats* 
crews  to  apply  the  torch  to  our  peaceful  villages. 
Not  a  fishing-boat  could  leave  a  cove  without  dan- 
gler of  capture  and  the  imprisonment  of  all  the  crew. 

Little  did  the  British  Government  imagine  that 
any  commander  of  an  American  vessel  would  have 
the  audacity  to  approach  even  within  sight  of  het 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH  LION  6l 

shores.  It  was  the  main  design  of  Captain  Jones  to 
punish  England  for  the  atrocities  she  was  so  cruelly 
perpetrating  upon  us — and  to  punish  her  in  kind. 
On  the  loth  of  August  he  launched  forth,  from  the 
aiagnificent  harbor  of  Brest,  and  directed  his  course 
almost  due  north,  for  Land's  End,  the  extreme  south- 
ern cape  of  the  island  of  Great  Britain.  The  dis- 
tance across,  at  this  point,  is  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  miles. 

About  thirty  miles  off  the  southern  coast  of  Eng- 
land, in  a  southwest  direction,  there  is  a  group  of 
islands  called  the  Scilly  Islands.  Captain  Jones  ran  his 
vessel  between  them  and  Cape  Clear,  within  full  view 
of  the  shores  of  England,  and  where  the  flash  of  his 
guns  could  be  seen  and  the  thunders  of  his  cannon 
distinctly  heard  on  those  shores.  Opposing  winds 
and  a  rough  sea  so  impeded  his  progress  that  he  did 
not  gain  sight  of  England's  coast  until  the  14th.  Then 
he  descried  a  merchant-brig.  He  bore  down  upon 
her  and  captured  her.  The  brig  was  freighted  with 
flax,  and  was  bound  from  Ireland  to  Ostend,  in  Bel- 
gium. As  the  freight  was  of  no  value,  and  Captain 
Jones  did  not  wish  to  encumber  himself  with  pri- 
soners, the  crew  were  sent  ashore  in  the  boats  and 
the  brig  was  scuttled  and  sunk. 

These  tidings  must  have  created  a  strange  sensA. 
tion,  as  they  spread  like  wildfire  throughout  Eng- 


62  PAUL  JONES. 

land.  It  must  have  roused  the  whole  British  navy 
to  wreak  vengeance  upon  the  intrepid  voyager.  He 
then  entered  St.  George's  Channel,  which  separates 
Southern  England  from  Ireland.  When  almost  with- 
in sight  of  the  spires  of  Dublin  he  encountered,  on 
the  17th  of  August,  a  large  London  ship.  He  cap- 
tured her.  Her  cargo  consisted  of  a  variety  of  valua- 
ble merchandise.  The  crew  were  sent  ashore.  The 
prize  he  manned  and  sent  back  to  Brest. 

Thus  far  dense  clouds  had  darkened  their  way, 
and  rough  winds  had  ploughed  the  seas,  but  now  the 
weather  changed.  The  skies  became  fair  and  the 
wind  favorable.  He  sailed  rapidly  along  into  the 
Irish  Sea,  and  passed  by  the  Isle  of  Man,  intending  to 
make  a  descent  at  Whitehaven,  with  whose  harbor 
and  surroundings  he  from  childhood  had  been  fami- 
liar. About  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  17th, 
he  was  off  the  harbor,  with  a  boat's  crew  of  picked 
men  ready  to  enter  and  set  fire  to  the  shipping. 
But  the  wind,  which  had  been  blowing  strong  during 
the  afternoon,  by  eleven  o'clock  increased  to  a  gale, 
blowing  directly  on  shore,  and  raising  such  a  heavy 
sea  that  the  boats  could  not  leave  the  ships.  Dur- 
ing the  night  the  storm  so  increased,  threatening  to 
drive  the  vessel  upon  the  rocks,  that  it  became  neces- 
sar>*  to  crowd  all  sail,  and  put  out  to  sea  so  as  to 
clear  the  land. 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH   LION.  O3 

The  next  morning  the  storm  abated,  and  the 
Ranger  was  near  Glestine  Bay»  just  off  the  southern 
coast  of  Scotland.  A  revenue  wherry  hove  in  sight. 
It  was  the  custom  of  the  revenue  boat  to  board 
all  merchant  vessels  in  search  of  contraband  goods. 
As  the  Ranger  concealed,  as  much  as  possible, 
all  warlike  appearance,  Captain  Jones  hoped 
that  the  wherry,  which  was  one  of  the  swiftest  of 
sailers,  would  come  alongside,  so  that  he  might 
effect  her  capture.  But  it  seems  that  the  tidings  o^ 
the  Ranger  had  reached  the  ears  of  the  officers  of 
the  governmental  boat.  After  examining  the  vessel 
carefully  with  their  glasses,  they  crowded  on  all  sail,  to 
escape.  The  Ranger  pursued,  opening  upon  the  af- 
frighted boat  a  severe  cannonade.  The  balls  bound- 
ed over  the  waves,  and  the  explosions  reverberated 
amid  the  cHffs  of  Scotland,  but  the  wherry  escaped. 

The  next  morning,  April  19th,  when  near  the  ex 
treme  southern  cape  of  Scotland,  called  the  Mull  oi 
Galloway,  he  overtook  one  of  the  merchant  schoon- 
ers of  the  enemy,  from  which  he  took  what  he 
wanted,  sent  the  crew  ashore,  and  sunk  the  vessel 
By  a  just  retribution  he  was  thus  chastising  England 
for  the  crimes  she  was  committing  on  the  Ameiicac 
coast.     Hudibras  writes : 

•*  No  man  e'er  felt  the  halter  draw 
With  good  opinion  of  the  law." 


t4  PAUL  JONES. 

England  was  astonished  and  enraged  in  finding 
the  laws  of  naval  warfare  which  she  had  enacted, 
and  had  so  long  practised  with  impunity  upon  af; 
other  nations  all  around  the  globe,  now  brought 
home  to  herself.  She  called  Paul  Jones  all  manner 
of  hard  names.  He  was  a  beggar,  a  thief,  a  trai- 
tor, a  highway  robber,  a  pirate.  He  was  thus  de- 
nounced for  doing  that,  in  the  English  and  Irish  Chan- 
nel, which  England's  fleet  was  doing  all  along  the  coast 
of  America.  And  yet  it  was  heroic  in  Jones  thus  to 
brave  all  the  terrors  of  the  British  navy,  while  it  was 
ignoble  and  mean  for  that  proud  navy  to  plunder 
and  burn  the  few  unprotected  vessels  of  the  feeble 
colonies  struggling  for  existence  in  the  New  World. 
England  had  long  made  her  banqueting-halls 
resound  with  the  song, 

**  Britannia  needs  no  buhvarks 
To  frown  along  the  steep  ; 
Her  march  is  on  the  mountain  wavc^ 
Her  home  is  on  the  deep.'* 

It  was  the  noble  mission  of  Paul  Jones  to  teach 
Britannia  that  the  arm  of  the  avenger  could  reach 
her  even  in  her  own  Channel,  and  in  her  own  har- 
bors. Thus  England  was  compelled  to  drink  of  the 
poisoned  cup  which  she  was  forcing  to  the  lips  of 
others. 

Upon  the  western  coast  of  Scotland,  about  fifty 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH   LION.  6^ 

miles  north  of  the  Mull  of  Galloway,  there  was  a  ca- 
pacious harbor  called  Lochryan,  or  Lake  Ryan. 
Captain  Jones  learned  from  his  captives  that  there 
was  there  a  fleet  often  or  twelve  English  merchant 
vessels,  and  also  the  tender  of  a  man-of-war,  which 
had  on  board  a  large  number  of  impressed  seamen, 
who  were  to  be  forced  into  the  British  navy.  It  was 
not  improbable  that  many  of  these  were  American 
citizens,  who  had  been  seized  in  our  merchant  or 
fishing  vessels,  and  who  would  thus  be  compelled  to 
work  the  guns  of  Great  Britain  against  their  own 
countrymen.  "  I  thought  this  an  enterprise," 
writes  Paul  Jones,  "  worthy  of  my  attention." 

Indeed  it  was.  He  spread  his  sails  for  Lochryan. 
The  wind  was  fair,  so  that  he  could  run  into  the  bay, 
speedily  apply  the  torch,  kindle  the  whole  fleet  into 
flame,  and  then  run  out  before  a  sufficient  force 
could  be  collected  to  prevent  his  escape.  But  just 
as  he  reached  the  entrance  of  the  bay,  and  every- 
thing was  in  readiness  for  the  successful  prosecution 
of  his  enterprise,  the  wind  changed,  and  blew  with 
great  fierceness  dir-^tly  into  the  bay.  Thus,  though 
he  coula  easily  effect  his  entrance,  he  could  not  sail 
out  from  the  bay  until  the  wind  changed.  He 
might  therefore  be  caught  in  a  trap.  He  was  thus 
•onstrained  to  abandon  the  project. 

About   sixty   miles   north   of  Locnryar    is   the 


66  PAUL  JONKS. 

Frith  of  Clyde,  whose  river  is  the  most  important 
stream  in  the  west  of  Scotland.  Captain  Jones  see- 
ing upon  his  lee  bow  a  cutter,  or  small  sloop-rigged 
vessel,  belonging  as  a  tender  to  a  man-of-war,  steer- 
ing for  the  Clyde,  gave  chase.  But  when  he  reached 
the  remarkable  rock  of  Ailsa,  finding  that  the  cutter 
was  outsailing  him,  he  abandoned  the  chase.  In  the 
evening  he  fell  in  with  a  merchant  sloop,  which  he 
sunk. 

The  next  day,  which  was  the  2 1st,  he  entered 
the  Bay  of  Carrickfergus,  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Ire- 
land. At  the  western  extremity  of  the  bay  lies  the 
city  of  Belfast,  which  occupies  the  first  rank  among 
the  commercial  marts  of  Ireland.  The  fortified 
town  of  Carrickfergus  is  situated  upon  the  northern 
shore.  A  British  ship  of  war,  the  Drake,  mounting 
twenty  guns,  was  at  anchor  in  the  bay.  Thoroughly 
armed  and  manned,  she  was  a  formidable  antago- 
nist for  the  Ranger  to  attack.  As  vessels  of  all 
sizes  were  continually  coming  and  going  in  this 
great  thoroughfare,  and  as  the  Ranger  carefully 
avoided  all  warlike  appearance,  no  suspicion  of  her 
formidable  character  was  excited  on  board  the  Drake. 
Jones  therefore  cast  anchor,  preparing  to  make  his 
attack  in  the  night.  I  will  give  the  result  in  his 
own  words: 

**  My  plan  was  to  overlay  her  cable,  and  to  fall 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH  LION.  6; 

upon  her  bow,  so  as  to  have  all  her  decks  open  and 
exposed  to  our  musketry.  At  the  same  time  it  was 
our  intention  to  have  secured  the  enemy  by  grap- 
plings,  so  that,  had  they  cut  their  cables,  they  would 
not  thereby  have  attained  an  advantage.  The  wind 
was  high,  and  unfortunately  the  anchor  was  not  let 
go  so  soon  as  the  order  was  given ;  so  that  the  Ran- 
ger was  brought  to  upon  the  enemy's  quarter,  at 
the  distance  of  half  a  cable's  length. 

"We  had  made  no  warlike  appearance.  Of 
course,  we  had  given  no  alarm.  This  determined  me 
to  cut  immediately,  which  might  appear  as  if  the 
cable  had  parted.  At  the  same  time  it  enabled  me, 
after  making  a  tack  out  of  the  Loch,  to  return  with 
the  same  advantage  which  I  had  at  first.  I  was, 
however,  prevented  from  returning,  as  I  with  diffi- 
culty weathered  the  light-house  on  the  leeside,  and 
as  the  gale  increased.  The  weather  now  became  so 
very  stormy  and  severe,  and  the  sea  ran  so  high,  that 
I  v/as  obliged  to  take  shelter  under  the  south  shore 
of  Scotland." 

The  North  Channel,  which  separates  Ireland  from 
Scotland,  is  at  this  point  about  thirty  miles  wide. 
The  next  morning  the  sun  rose  in  a  cloudless  sky. 
it  was  bitterly  cold  in  those  northern  latitudes. 
Captain  Jones  was  on  the  same  parallel  with  New- 
foundland.    From  the  deck  of  his  vessel  he  could 


6S  PAUL  JONKS. 

dearly  discern  the  coasts  of  England,  Scothind.  anJJ 
Ireland.  A  white  mantle  of  snow  covered  the  hills 
and  valleys  as  far  as  the  eye  could  extend.  He  de- 
cided to  direct  his  course  to  the  shores  of  England, 
and  to  make  another  attempt  upon  the  shipping  in 
the  harbor  of  Whitehaven.  The  wind  became  very 
light,  and  it  was  not  until  midnight  that  he  reached 
the  entrance  to  the  harbor.  For  the  hazardous  en- 
terprise of  penetrating  a  harbor  defended  by  two 
batteries,  he  manned  two  boats  with  volunteers, 
fifteen  men  in  each.  There  were  in  the  harbor  two 
hundred  and  twenty  vessels,  large  and  small.  The 
tide  was  out,  and  many  of  these  vessels  aground. 
About  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  them  were  on  the 
south  side  of  the  harbor  adjoining  the  town.  The 
remainder  were  on  the  north  side. 

Captain  Jones  had  command  of  one  of  the  boats 
Lieutenant  Wallingford  was  intrusted  with  the 
other.  Jones  supplied  Wallingford  with  the  neces 
sary  combustibles  to  set  fire  to  the  shipping  on  tht 
north  side.  With  fifteen  men,  armed  only  with  pis- 
tols and  cutlasses,  he  set  out  to  capture  two  English 
forts  on  the  south  side,  and  then  to  set  fire  to  the 
shipping  there.  The  garrisons  of  these  forts  had  no 
more  apprehension  of  an  attack  from  the  despised 
Americans,  than  Gibraltar  fears  assault  from  some 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH   LION.  t^ 

feeble  tribe  in  Southern  Asia  with  whom  England 
may  chance  to  be  at  war. 

In  consequence  of  the  unfortunate  delay,  they 
did  not  reach  the  first  fort  until  just  as  the  morning 
was  beginning  to  dawn.  Most  of  the  soldiers  were 
soundly  asleep  in  the  guard-house.  There  were  a 
few  drowsy  sentinels  dozing  at  their  posts.  Jones, 
with  his  heroic  little  band,  silently  clambered  ovtr 
the  ramparts.  The  terrified  sentinels,  not  knowing 
what  was  coming,  rushed  into  the  guard-house. 
Jones  quietly  locked  them  in,  spiked  every  gun,  and 
then  rushed  forward  to  the  next  battery,  which  was 
distant  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Here  he  success- 
fully repeated  his  achievement,  so  that  not  a  gun 
from  either  of  the  batteries  could  harm  his  boats. 

He  looked  eagerly  across  the  harbor,  expecting 
to  see  the  bursting  forth  of  the  flames.  It  was  now 
broad  day ;  but  no  sign  of  flame  or  smoke  was  to  be 
seen.  To  his  great  disappointment,  the  boat  under 
Lieutenant  Wallingford  had  crossed  to  the  south 
side,  having  accomplished  nothing.  The  paity 
seemed  confused  and  embarrassed,  and  made  the 
very  extraordinary  statement  that  their  torches 
went  out  just  as  they  were  ready  to  set  fire  to  the 
«hips ! 

The  failure  was  probably  caused  by  sheer  cow- 
ardice.     And   it   must    be   admitted    that    it   was 


TO  PAUL  JONES. 

indeed  one  of  the  most  desperate  of  enterprises. 
These  fifteen  men,  having  crossed  an  ocean  three 
thousand  miles  wide,  had  penetrated  the  heart  of  a 
British  harbor,  to  apply  the  torch  to  seventy  vessels. 

The  crews  could  not  have  amounted  to  less 
than  ten  men,  on  an  average,  to  each  vessel.  Thus 
the  British  sailors  alone  in  that  half  of  the  harbor, 
would  amount  to  seven  hundred  men.  The  assail- 
ants, it  will  be  remembered,  amounted  to  but  fifteen 
men,  in  a  frail  boat,  armed  only  with  swords  and  pis- 
tols. Even  the  bravest  might  recoil  from  such  odds. 
But  as  these  men  had  volunteered  for  the  enterprise, 
and  knew  all  its  perils,  it  w^as  the  basest  poltroon 
ery  in  them  to  prove  recreant  at  the  crisis  of  the 
expedition. 

The  torches  which  Captain  Jones's  boat  party 
carried,  had  also,  by  some  strange  fatality,  all  burned 
out.  Captain  Jones,  however,  obtained  a  light  from 
a  neighboring  house,  entered  a  large  ship,  from 
which  the  crew  fled,  and  deliberately  built  a  fire  iii 
the  steerage.  This  ship  was  closely  surrounded  by 
at  least  a  hundred  and  fifty  vessels  lying  side  by 
side,  and  all  aground.  Captain  Jones,  to  make  the 
conflagration  certain,  found  a  barrel  of  tar,  and 
poured  it  upon  the  kindling.  The  flames  soon 
burst  from  all  the  hatchways,  caught  the  rigging 
and,  in  fiery  wreaths,  circled  to  the  mast-head. 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH  LION.  71 

*•  The  inhabitants,"  writes  Captain  Jones,  **  began 
to  appear  in  thousands,  and  individuals  ran  hastily 
toward  us.  I  stood  between  them  and  the  ship  on 
fire,  with  a  pistol  in  my  hand,  and  ordered  them  to 
retire,  which  they  did  with  precipitation.  The  sun 
was  a  full  hour's  march  above  the  horizon,  and,  as 
sleep  no  longer  ruled  the  world,  it  was  time  to 
retire.  We  reembarked  without  opposition,  having 
released  a  number  of  prisoners,  as  our  boats  could 
not  carry  them.  After  all  my  people  had  embarked, 
I  stood  upon  the  pier,  for  a  considerable  space,  yet 
no  person  advanced.  I  saw  all  the  eminences  round 
the  town  covered  with  the  amazed  inhabitants." 

When  the  boats  had  been  rowed  some  distance 
from  the  shore,  the  English  began  to  run  to  their 
forts,  to  open  fire  from  the  great  guns.  To  their 
surprise  they  found  the  garrisons  locked  up  in  the 
guard-houses,  and  the  cannon  all  spiked.  After 
some  delay  they  found  one  or  two  cannon  on  the 
beach,  which  were  dismounted,  and  which  had  not 
been  spiked.  These  they  hastily  loaded  and  fired  ; 
but  with  such  ill-directed  aim  that  the  shot  all  fell 
wide  of  their  mark.  Captain  Jones's  men,  in  deri- 
sion, fired  their  pistols,  returning  ih-G  salute. 

If  the  boats  could  have  entered  the  harbor  a  few- 
hours  earlier,  the  success  would  doubtless  have  been 
complete,  and  not  a  vessel  would  have  escaped  thf 


72  PAUL  JONES. 

ftames.  **  But  v/hat  was  done,"  writes  Captairi 
Jones,  '*  is  sufficient  to  show  that  not  all  their  boasted 
navy  can  protect  their  own  coasts ;  and  that  the 
scenes  of  distress,  which  they  have  occasioned  in 
America,  may  be  soon  brought  home  to  their  own 
door." 

The  Ranger  now  struck  across  the  broad  mouth  of 
Solway  Frith,  to  St.  Mary's  Island,  on  the  Scottish 
shore,  in  Kirkcudbright  Bay.  Here  Lord  Selkirk 
had  his  residence,  in  a  fine  mansion.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  father  of  Paul  Jones  had 
been  attached  to  his  household.  The  British  were 
shutting  up  our  most  illustrious  men  in  the  hulks 
of  prison  ships,  and  treating  them  with  barbarity 
which  would  have  disgraced  savages.  Captain  Jones 
deemed  it  of  the  utmost  importance,  as  a  measure 
of  humanity,  to  seize  some  distinguished  English- 
man and  hold  him  as  a  hostage,  to  secure  the  better 
treatment  of  our  own  noble  men  who  had  fallen  into 
the  enemy's  hands.  For  this  patriotic  movement 
the  English  press  denounced  him  in  terms  of  un- 
measured abuse.  The  motive  which  influenced  him 
was  an  exalted  one.  And  he  merits  the  highest 
-encomiums  for  the  manner  in  which  he  conducted 
the  enterprise.  In  justice  to  Captain  Jones,  I  feci 
bound  to  give  the  narrative  in  his  own  words.  It  is 
contained  in  letter  which  he  wrote  to  the  Countess 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH  LION.  f$ 

oi  Selkirk,  with  whom  he  was  personally  acquainted. 

immediately    after   the    Ranger   returned   from   its 

cruise  to  Brest. 

"Ranger,  Brest,  May  S. 

"To  THE  Countess  of  Selkirk 

"  Madam — It  cannot  be  too  much  lamented 
that,  in  the  profession  of  arms,  the  officer  of  fine  feel- 
ing and  of  real  sensibility  should  be  under  the  neces- 
sity of  winking  at  any  action  of  persons  under  his 
command  which  his  heart  cannot  approve.  But  the 
reflection  is  doubly  severe,  when  he  finds  himself 
obliged,  in  appearance,  to  countenance  such  actions 
by  his  authority. 

**  This  hard  case  was  mine  when,  on  the  23d  of 
April  last,  I  landed  on  St.  Mar>''s  Isle.  Knowing 
Lord  Selkirk's  interest  with  his  king,  and  esteem- 
ing, as  I  do,  his  private  character,  I  wished  to  make 
him  the  happy  instrument  of  alleviating  the  horrors 
of  hopeless  captivity,  when  the  brave  are  over- 
powered and  made  prisoners  of  war. 

"  It  was  perhaps  fortunate  for  you,  madam,  that 
he  was  from  home ;  for  it  was  my  intention  to 
have  taken  him  on  board  the  Ranger,  and  to  have 
detained  him  until,  through  his  means,  a  general  and 
fair  exchange  of  prisoners,  as  well  in  Europe  as  in 
America,  had  been  effected. 

"  When  I  was  Informed,  by  some  men  whom  I 


74  PAUL   TONES. 

met  pX  landing,  that  his  lordship  waj  absent,  i 
walked  back  to  my  boat  determined  to  leave  cht 
island.  On  the  way,  however,  some  officers  who 
were  with  me,  could  not  forbear  expressing  thei; 
discontent  They  said  that,  in  America,  no  delicacy 
was  shown  by  the  English,  who  took  away  all  sorts 
of  movable  property  ;  setting  fire  not  only  to  towns 
and  to  the  houses  of  the  rich,  without  distinction, 
but  not  even  sparing  the  wretched  hamlets  and 
milch  cows  of  the  poor  and  helpless,  at  the  approach 
of  an  inclement  winter. 

"  That  party  had  been  with  me,  the  same  morn- 
ing, at  Whitehaven.  Some  complaisance  was  there- 
fore their  due.  I  had  but  a  moment  to  think  how  1 
might  gratify  them,  and,  at  the  same  time,  do  your 
ladyship  the  least  injury.  I  charged  the  two  officers 
to  permit  none  of  the  seamen  to  enter  the  house,  or 
to  hurt  anything  about  it ;  to  treat  you,  madam 
vith  the  utmost  respect ;  to  accept  of  the  plate 
Nhlch  was  offered :  and  to  come  away,  without  mak- 
ing a  search  oi  demanding  anything  else. 

"  I  am  induced  to  believe  that  I  was  punctually 
obeyed;  since  I  am  informed  that  the  plate,  which 
they  brought  away,  is  far  short  of  the  quantity  ex- 
pressed in  the  inventory  which  accompanied  it.  1 
have  gratified  my  men.  And  when  the  plate  is  sold 
I  shall  become  its  purchaser,  and  will  gratify  my  owj? 


BEARDING  THE  BRITISH  LION.  7J 

feelings  by  restoring  it  to  you,  by  such  conveyance 
as  you  shall  please  to  direct. 

"  Had  the  Earl  been  on  board  the  Ranger  the 
following  evening,  he  would  have  seen  the  awful 
pomp  and  dreadful  carnage  of  a  sea  engagement ; 
both  affording  ample  subject  for  the  pencil,  as  well 
as  melancholy  reflection  to  the  contemplative  mind. 
Humanity  starts  back  from  such  scenes  of  horror, 
and  cannot  sufficiently  execrate  the  vile  promoters 
of  this  detestable  war. 

** '  For  they,  'twas  they  unsheathed  t-he  ruthless  blade, 
And  Heaven  shall  ask  the  havoc  it  has  made.' 

"  The  British  ship-of-war  Drake,  mounting  twenty 
guns,  with  more  than  her  full  complement  of  officers 
and  men,  was  our  opponent.  The  ships  met,  and 
the  advantage  was  disputed,  with  great  fortitude  on 
each  side,  for  an  hour  and  four  minutes,  when  the 
gallant  commander  of  the  Drake  fell,  and  victory 
declared  in  favor  of  the  Ranger.  The  amiable  lieu- 
tenant lay  mortally  wounded  ;  a  melancholy  demon- 
stration of  the  uncertainity  of  human  prospects,  and 
of  the  sad  reverses  of  fortune  which  an  hour  can 
produce.  I  buried  them  in  a  spacious  grave,  with 
the  honors  due  to  the  memory  of  the  brave 

*^  Though  I  have  drawn  my  sword,  in  the  present 
generous  struggle  for  the  rights  of   man,  yet  I  am 


76  PAUL  JONEb. 

not  in  arms  as  an  American,  nor  am  I  in  pursuit  ol 
riches.  My  fortune  is  liberal  enough,  having  no 
w^ife  nor  family,  and  having  lived  long  enough  to 
know  that  riches  cannot  insure  happiness.  I  profess 
myself  a  citizen  of  the  world,  totally  unfettered  by 
the  little,  mean  distinctions  of  climate  or  of  country, 
which  diminish  the  benevolence  of  the  heart  and 
set  bounds  to  philanthropy.  Before  this  war  was 
begun  I  had,  at  an  early  time  of  Hfe,  withdrawn  from 
sea  service,  in  favor  of  calm  contemplation  and 
poetic  ease.  I  have  sacrificed  not  only  my  favorite 
scheme  of  life,  but  the  softer  affections  of  the  heart 
and  my  prospects  of  domestic  happiness,  and  I  am 
ready  to  sacrifice  my  life  also,  with  cheerfulness,  if 
that  forfeiture  could  restore  peace  and  good-vriU 
among  mankind. 

**  As  the  feelings  of  your  gentle  bosom  cannot  but 
be  congenial  with  mine,  let  me  entreat  you,  madam, 
to  use  your  persuasive  art,  with  your  husband's,  to 
endeavor  to  stop  this  cruel  and  destructive  war,  in 
which  Britain  never  can  succeed.  Heaven  can  never 
countenance  the  barbarous  and  unmanly  practice  of 
the  Britons  in  America,  which  savages  would  blush 
at,  and  which,  if  not  discontinued,  will  soon  be  retali- 
ited  on  Britain  by  a  justly  enraged  people.  Should 
you  fail  in  this,  for  I  am  persuaded  that  you  will 
attempt  it — and  who  can  resist  the  power  oi  such  an 


BEARDING  THE  BRHISH  LION,  f; 

advocate  ? — your  endeavors  to  effect  a  general  ex 
change  of  prisoners  will  be  an  act  of  humanity  which 
will  afford  you  golden  feelings  on  your  death-bed- 

**  I  hope  this  cruel  contest  will  soon  be  closed 
^^'it  should  it  continue,  I  wage  no  war  with  the  fair 
I  acknowledge  their  force  and  bend  before  it  with  sub 
mission.  Let  not,  therefore,  the  amiable  Countess 
of  Selkirk  regard  me  as  an  enemy.  I  am  ambitious 
of  her  esteem  and  friendship,  and  would  do  anything 
consistent  with  my  duty  to  merit  it. 

"  The  honor  of  a  line,  from  your  hand,  in  answei 
to  this,  will  lay  me  under  a  singular  obligation. 
And  if  I  can  render  you  any  acceptable  service  in 
France  or  elsewhere,  I  hope  you  see  into  my  charac- 
ter so  far  as  to  command  me  without  the  least  graiii 
of  reserve. 

"  I  wish   to  know  exactly  the  behavior  of  m) 
people,  as  I  am  determined  to  punish  them  if  thej 
exceed  their  liberty.     I  have  the  honor  to  be,  witfe 
much  esteem  and  with  profound  respect, 
*'  Madam,  yours,  etc., 

"  John  Paul  Jones/ 


CHAPTER    IV. 
Captain  Jones  at  Nantes  and  at  Bmt, 

Correspondence  with  Lord  Selkirk. — Terrible  Battle  with  the  Ship 
Drake. — Capture  of  the  Ship. — Carnage  on  board  the  Drake. — 
Generosity  to  Captured  Fishermen. — Insubordination  of  Lieuten- 
ant Simpson. — Embarrassments  of  Captain  Jones. — Hopes  and 
Disappointments. — Proofs  of  Unselfish  Patriotism. — Letter  to 
the  King  of  France. — Anecdote  of  Poor  Richard. 

The  letter  of  Paul  Jones  to  the  Countess  of 
Selkirk  was  published  widely  throughout  England, 
and  attracted  much  attention.  Dr.  Franklin  wrote 
to  Captain  Jones  from  Paris  : 

*'  It  was  a  gallant  letter,  and  must  give  her  lady- 
ship a  high  opinion  of  your  generosity  and  nobleness 
of  mind." 

The  plate  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  prize  agents. 
After  much  difficulty  and  considerable  delay,  Captain 
Jones  succeeded  in  purchasing  it,  though  at  a  price 
above  its  real  value.  He  then  returned  it  to  Lord 
Selkirk,  himself  defraying  all  the  expenses  of  trans- 
portation. Lord  Selkirk,  in  acknowledging  its  re- 
ceipt, from  London,  under  date  of  August.  1789 
wrote  : 


AT  NANTKS  AND  AT  BREST.  79 

Notwithstanding  all  the  precautions  you  look 
for  the  easy  and  uninterrupted  conveyance  of  the 
plate,  yet  it  met  with  considerable  delays,  first  at 
Calais,  next  at  Dover,  then  at  London.  However,  it 
at  last  arrived  at  Dumfries.  I  intended  to  have  put 
an  article  in  the  newspapers  about  your  having  re- 
turned it.  But  before  I  was  informed  of  its  being 
arrived,  some  of  your  friends,  I  suppose,  had  put  it 
into  the  Dumfries  newspaper,  whence  it  was  imme- 
diately copied  into  the  Edinburgh  papers,  and  thence 
into  the  London  ones.  Since  that  time  I  have  men- 
tioned it  to  many  people  of  fashion. 

**  And  on  all  occasions,  both  now  and  formerly,  I 
have  done  you  the  justice  to  tell  that  you  made  an 
offer  of  returning  the  plate  very  soon  after  your  re- 
turn to  Brest ;  and  although  you  yourself  was  not 
at  my  house,  but  remained  at  the  shore  with  your 
boat,  that  you  had  your  officers  and  m^en  in  such 
extraordinary  good  discipline,  that  your  having  given 
them  the  strictest  orders  to  behave  well,  to  do  no 
injury  of  any  kind,  to  make  no  search,  but  only  to 
bring  off  what  plate  was  given  them;  that  in  reality 
they  did  exactly  as  ordered,  and  that  not  one  man 
offered  to  stir  from  his  post  on  the  outside  of  the 
house,  nor  entered  the  doors,  nor  said  an  uncivil 
word  ;  that  the  two  officers  staid  not  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  in  the  parlor  and  in  the  butler  s  pantry,  while 


$0  PAUL  JONES. 

the  butler  got  the  plate  together,  behaved  politely 
and  asked  for  nothing  but  the  plate,  and  instantl) 
marched  their  men  off,  in  regular  order,  and  that  both 
officers  and  men  behaved  in  all  respects  so  well  that 
It  would  have  done  credit  to  the  best  disciplined 
troops  whatever." 

ihe  style  of  Captain  Jones's  letter  has  been  found 
fault  with.  But  in  literary  excellence  it  is  certainly 
above  that  of  the  English  lord.  One  of  the  Lon- 
don papers  said  of  him  : 

"  Paul  Jones  is  about  thirty-six  years  of  age,  of  a 
middling  stature,  well  proportioned,  with  an  agreea- 
ble countenance.  His  conversation  shows  him  to  be 
a  man  of  talents,  and  that  he  has  a  liberal  education. 
His  letters,  in  foreign  gazettes,  show  that  he  car. 
fight  with  the  pen  as  well  as  with  the  sword." 

In  the  letter  which  Captain  Jones  sent  to  Lord 
Selkirk  upon  the  return  of  the  plate,  he  wrote  : 

"  The  long  delay  that  has  happened  to  the  restora- 
tion of  your  plate,  has  given  me  much  concern,  and 
I  now  feel  a  proportionate  pleasure  in  fulfilling  what 
was  my  first  intention.  My  motive  for  landing  at 
your  estate  in  Scotland  was  to  take  j^oUy  as  a  hostage 
for  the  lives  and  liberties  of  a  number  of  the  citizens 
of  America,  who  had  been  taken  in  war  on  the  ocean 
and  committed  to  British  prisons,  under  an  act  of 
Parliament,  as  traitors,  pirates  and  felons.     You  ob- 


AT  NANTES   AND   AT   BRESl.  HI 

served  to  Mr  Alexander  that  my  idea  was  a  mis. 
taken  one,  because  you  were  not,  as  I  had  supposed 
in  favor  with  the  British  ministry,  who  knew  f^oi^ 
you  favored  the  cause  of  liberty.  On  that  account,  x 
am  glad  that  you  were  absent  from  your  estate  when 
I  landed  there,  as  I  bore  no  personal  enmity,  but  the 
contrary,  toward  you.  I  afterward  had  the  happi- 
ness to  redeem  my  fellow-citizens  from  Britain,  by 
means  far  more  glorious  than  through  the  medium 
of  any  single  hostage. 

"  As  I  have  endeavored  to  serve  the  cause  of  lib- 
^v'-ty.  through  every  stage  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, and  have  sacrificed  to  it  my  private  ease,  a  part 
of  my  fortune,  and  some  of  my  blood,  I  could  have 
no  selfish  motive  in  permitting  my  people  todenianc 
and  carry  off  your  plate.  My  sole  inducement  was 
to  turn  their  attention  and  stop  their  rage  from 
breaking  out  and  retaliating  on  your  house  and 
effects  the  too  wanton  burnings  and  desolation 
that  had  been  committed  against  their  relations  and 
fellow-citizens  in  America,  by  the  British  ;  of  which, 
I  assure  you,  you  would  have  felt  the  severe  conse- 
quences, had  \  not  fallen  on  an  expedient  to  prevent 
(t,  and  hurried  my  people  away  before  they  had 
time  for  further  reflection." 

We  must  now  return  from  this  episode  to  the 
ontinuance  of  Captain  Jones's  cruise.     In  his  Iett« 


S2  PAUL  JONES. 

to  Lady  Selkirk,  he  alludes  to  a  naval  battle  with  the 
3hip  Drake.  After  the  descent  upon  Mary's  Island, 
Captain  Jones  again  stood  across  the  Channel  frcn) 
the  Scottish  to  the  Irish  shore.  On  the  morning  of 
the  24th,  he  arrived  off  the  Bay  of  Carrickfergus,  and 
would  again  have  entered,  to  make  an  attack  upon 
the  Drake,  had  he  not  seen  that  that  ship  was  spread- 
ing her  sails  to  come  out.  The  wind  was  very  light 
and  the  progress  of  the  British  ship  slow.  The  cap- 
tain of  the  Drake  had  heard  of  the  ravages  of  the 
Ranger,  for  the  appalling  tidings  had  spread  far  and 
wide,  and  he  was  coming  out  in  search  of  her.  See- 
ing this  vessel  in  the  distance,  a  boat  was  sent  out 
from  the  Drake  to  reconnoitre.  Captain  Jones  kepi 
the  ship's  stern  directly  toward  the  approaching 
boat,  and  so  succeeded  in  disguising  his  true  charac- 
ter that  though  the  boat's  crew  carefully  scrutinized 
him  with  a  spy-glass,  they  were  completely  deceived, 
and,  hailing  the  vessel,  came  alongside.  As  soon 
as  the  officer  stepped  upon  the  quarter-deck,  he 
found,  to  his  great  surprise,  himself  a  prisoner  and 
his  boat  captured. 

Captain  Jones  learned,  from  his  captives,  that  the 
light  before  an  express  had  reached  the  Drake,  with 
tidings  of  the  destruction  of  the  shipping  at  White- 
haven  ;  and  the  Drake  had  immediately  increased 
It*  crew  by  a  large   number  of  volunteers,  and  wa.* 


\T  NANTES   AND  AT  BREST.  83 

now  pressing  forward  in  pursuit  of  the  Ranger. 
Alarm  fires  were  also  seen  on  the  eminences  on 
both  sides  of  the  Channel,  their  columns  of  smoki 
rising  high  into  the  air.  It  was  evident  that  the 
achievements  of  the  bold  little  Ranger  had  created 
a  great  commotion,  rousing  all  England  to  a  sense 
of  danger,  for  no  one  knew  upon  what  point  her  next 
blows  might  fall. 

The  wind  was  light  and  the  tide  unfavorable,  so 
that  the  Drake  worked  out  of  the  bay  slowly.  Cap- 
tain Jones  awaited  her  arrival,  laying  to  with  courses 
up,  and  main-topsail  to  the  mast.  At  length,  the 
Drake,  having  reached  the  mid-channel,  came  with- 
in hailing  distance,  and  ran  up  the  flag  of  England. 
At  the  same  instant  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  un- 
furled at  the  topmast  of  the  Ranger.  Still  an  officer 
on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Drake  shouted  out : 

"What  ship  is  that?" 

The  reply  was  immediately  returned  : 

"  It  is  the  American  Continental  ship  Ranger.  We 
are  waiting  for  you.  The  sun  is  but  little  more  than 
an  hour  from  setting.     It  is  therefore  time  to  begin." 

The  Drake  was  astern  of  the  Ranger.  Jores 
ordered  the  helm  up,  and  as  his  vessel  rounded  to, 
discharged  a  full  broadside  into  the  thronged  decks 
of  the  Drake.  The  iron  storm  crashed  through 
timbers  and  bones  and  quivering  nerves  with  terribP* 


^4  IfAUL  JONES. 

destruction  But  the  spirit  of  war  can  never  arresi 
its  energies  to  compassionate  its  victims.  The  guns 
of  the  Drake  were  loaded  and  shotted,  and  the  gun- 
ners  stood,  with  lighted  torches,  at  their  posts 
Instantly  the  fire  was  returned,  while  the  dead  were 
left  in  their  blood,  and  the  wounded  were  hurried  to 
the  cockpit,  to  writhe  beneath  the  cuttings  of  the 
surgeon's  knife. 

Thus,  for  an  hour  and  four  minutes,  the  dreadful 
conflict  continued.  The  thunders  of  the  exploding 
guns,  booming  over  the  waves,  echoed  along  the 
•hores  of  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland.  The  Bnu 
ish  Government  dreamed  not  that  its  feeble  colonies 
could  do  anything  more  than  present  a  brief  and 
totally  unavailing  resistance  behind  frail  ramparts, 
suddenly  thrown  up,  three  thousand  miles  away,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Atlantic.  And  yet  here  were 
those  colonies  putting  forth  energies  which  were 
burning  ships  in  England's  home  harbors,  and  bom- 
barding her  frigates  in  her  own  Channel. 

At  the  close  of  an  hour  and  four  minutes  of  as 
obstinate  a  naval  battle  as  could  be  fought,  the 
Drake  dropped  her  flag  and  cried  for  quarter.  Her 
fore  and  main-topsail  yards  were  both  cut  away,  and 
hung  down  on  the  cap.  The  top-gallant  yard  and 
mizzen  gaff  were  also  torn  from  their  fastenings  and 
were  dangling  against  the  mast.     The  first  flag:  had 


AT   NANTES  AND  AT  BREST.  §5 

been  shot  awiy.  They  had  raised  a  second  That 
also  had  fallen  before  the  incessant  storm  of  iron 
hail,  and  was  draggling  in  the  water.  Her  masts 
and  yards  were  all  more  or  less  shattered,  while  the 
main-mast  was  so  seriously  wounded  as  to  be  in  dan. 
ger  of  falling.  The  jib  was  shot  away,  and,  held  by 
the  cordage,  was  floating  on  the  waves.  The  hull 
was  pierced  in  many  places,  shivered  and  splintered 
by  the  balls. 

Upon  entering  the  captured  ship  an  appalling 
spectacle  met  the  eye.  A  hundred  and  ninety  men 
had  crowded  it,  in  the  full  assurance  of  victory.  Of 
these,  forty-two  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  A 
musket-ball  had  pierced  the  brain  of  the  captain,  and 
he  lay  weltering  in  blood,  silent  in  death.  The  first 
Heutenant  had  also  been  struck  by  a  mortal  wound, 
and  was  in  death's  convulsions. 

It  is  very  remarkable  that  on  board  the  Ranger 
there  was  but  one  m.an  killed  and  six  wounded. 
The  night  succeeding  this  terrible  storm  of  humat 
violence  was  severe  and  the  ocean  tranqi'.il  As  all 
hands  were  busy  in  refitting  the  shatterco  vessels, 
an  English  merchant  brig  came  along,  bcund  for 
Norway  It  was  captured  without  difficulty.  As 
English  men-of-war  were  crowding  St.  George's  Chan- 
?iel    Captain    Jones   decided   to   pajs   through   the 


$6  PAUL  JONES. 

North  Channel  with  his  two  prizes,  and   return   to 
Brest  by  the  west  coast  of  Ireland. 

When  Captain  Jones  first  made  his  appearance 
off  Carrickfergus  Bay,  he  captured  a  fishing-boat  to 
make  inquiries  respecting  the  shipping  within  the 
bay.  As  secrecy  was  essential  to  his  plan  of  opera- 
tion, it  was  necessary  to  detain  those  fishermen  with 
their  boat.  Otherwise  they  would  communicate 
intelligence  of  his  movements,  and  abundant  pre- 
parations would  be  made  to  vepel  him.  It  was  no 
longer  necessary  to  detain  them.  Captain  Jones 
writes : 

'*  It  was  now  time  to  release  the  honest  fishermen, 
whom  I  took  up  here  on  the  2 1st.  And,  as  the  poor 
fellows  had  lost  their  boat,  she  having  sunk  in  the 
late  stormy  weather,  I  was  happy  in  having  it  in  my 
power  to  give  them  the  necessary  sum  to  purchase 
everything  new  which  they  had  lost.  I  gave  them 
also  a  good  boat,  to  transport  themselves  ashore ; 
and  sent  with  them  two  infirm  men,  on  whom  I  be- 
stowed the  last  guinea  in  my  possession,  to  defray 
their  travelling  expenses  to  their  proper  home  in 
Dublin.  They  took  with  them  one  of  the  Drake's 
sails,  which  would  sufficiently  explain  what  had  hap- 
pened to  the  volunteers.  The  grateful  fishermen 
were  in  raptures ;  and  expressed  their  joy  in  theii 
buzzas  as  they  passed  the  Ranger's  quarter/' 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BREST,  87 

This  was  indeed  extraordinary  magnanimity 
when  we  contrast  it  with  the  C(»nduct  of  England, 
bombarding  and  burning  our  defenceless  villages, 
immuring  our  most  illustrious  men  in  the  dungeons 
of  hulks,  worse  than  the  oubliettes  of  the  Bastile,  and 
robbing  poor  fishermen  of  everything,  burning  their 
boats,  and  often  impressing  them  into  her  navy,  and 
compelling  them  to  serve  the  guns  against  their  own 
countrymen. 

Contrary  winds  so  impeded  the  progress  of  Cap- 
tain Jones  that  it  was  not  until  the  $th  of  May  that 
he  had  skirted  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  and 
reached  Ushant,  a  French  island  a  few  miles  distant 
from  the  extreme  northwestern  coast  of  France. 
The  Ranger  was  accompanied  by  the  two  vessels  she 
had  taken,  having  the  torn  and  battered  Drake  in 
tow.  A  ship  hove  in  sight  to  the  leeward,  steering  for 
the  Channel.  Captain  Jones  cast  off  the  Drake,  by 
cutting  the  hawser,  and  gave  chase  to  the  stranger. 
His  swift-sailing  vessel  overtook  the  chase  in  little 
more  than  an  hour,  and  hailing  her,  found  that  she 
was  a  Swede.  He  therefore  immediately  hauled  by 
the  wind  and  returned  to  the  southward  to  rejoin  the 
Drake,  which  was  then  scarcely  perceptible  in  the 
distant  horizon. 

The  evolutions  of  the  Drake  surprised  him.  She 
seemed  to  be  trying  to  put  as  much  distance  as  pos- 


$S  PAUL  JONES. 

sible  between  herself  and  the  Ranger.  Several  largv 
ships  appeared  steering  into  the  Channel.  But  Jonefi 
was  prevented  from  pursuing  them  in  consequence 
of  the  extraordinary  evolutions  of  the  Drake.  Hi' 
n.ade  signals.  They  were  totally  disregarded.  J' 
was  not  until  the  next  day  he  succeeded  in  overtak- 
ing the  runaway  Drake.  Her  commanding  officer, 
Lieutenant  Simpson,  was  immediately  placed  undei 
arre?t  for  disobedience  of  orders. 

It  would  seem  that  the  lieutenant  left  America 
with  the  impression,  and  doubtless  a  correct  one, 
that,  upon  arriving  in  France,  Captain  Jones  was  to 
be  transferred  to  another  and  much  finer  ship,  while 
he  was  to  be  left  in  command  of  the  Drake.  He 
consequently  seemed  to  feel  that  the  Drake  and  her 
crew  belonged  to  him,  and  the  temporary  captain 
was  rather  a  passenger  whom  he  was  conveying  to 
his  destination.  He  therefore  assumed  airs,  and 
'.vas  guilty  of  petty  acts  of  insubordination,  which 
were  very  annoying  to  Captain  Jones,  who  was  a 
strict  discipHnarian. 

Moreover,  Lieutenant  Simpson  allowed  his  re^ 
publican  principles  to  carry  him  so  far  as  to  advo- 
cate a  republican  form  of  government  even  upon  the 
decks  of  a  war-ship.  He  declared  to  the  sailors, 
that  they,  being  free  and  enlightened  American  citi- 
fens,  were    entitled  to   decide,  by  the  voice  of   the 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BREST.  So 

majority,  respecting  all  questions  of  importance  on 
ship-board  ;  that  the  captain  was  to  be  their  agent 
to  perform  their  will,  Simpson  was  daily  growln^^ 
more  discontented  with  the  position  he  occupied' 
and  was  probably  intending  to  run  away  with  thr 
Drake,  one  of  the  best  finished  of  England's  ^v■^r, 
ships,  to  repair  her  in  some  French  harbor,  and  to 
sail  forth  on  a  cruise  upon  his  own  responsibility, 
perhaps  as  a, French  privateersman. 

But  for  this  insubordination  on  the  part  of  Lieu- 
tenant Simpson,  Captain  Jones  would  doubtless  have 
taken  several  other  important  prizes.     The  Ranger, 
with  her  two  prizes,  returned  to  the  harbor  of  Brest, 
and  cast  anchor  there   on  the  9th  of  May,  having 
been  absent  but  one  month.     In  the  mean  time  the 
French  squadron,  under  Count  d'Estaing,  had  been 
made   ready   for   sea.     The   news    of    the   brilliant 
achievements  of  Paul  Jones   electrified  France  and 
appalled    England.     The   alarm    infused   along   the 
coasts  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  amounted  almost 
to  a  panic.     Lookout  vessels  were  constantly  cruising 
along  the  shores.    The  militia  were  called  out.    New 
fortifications  were  constructed.  The  whole  population 
of  the  seacoast  was  kept  in  a  state  of  constant  alarm. 
But  Captain  Jones  was  now  in  great  pecuniary 
embarrassment.      The  Colonial  Governn^ent  was  so 
poor  that  it  could  not  honor  his  drafts.     He  was  no* 


90  PAUL  JONES. 

only  unable  to  refit  his  ship,  but  was  in  want  of  the 
means  of  providing  the  daily  food  for  his  crew. 
When  he  left  America  he  had  advanced,  from  his 
own  means,  seven  thousand  dollars  for  the  public 
service.  He  had,  in  a  foreign  land,  two  hundred 
prisoners  of  war  to  be  provided  for,  a  number  of  his 
own  sick  and  wounded,  and  his  ship  to  be  repaired, 
shattered  by  a  terrible  engagement,  and  destitute  of 
provisions  and  stores.  And  he  was  not  allowed  to 
dispose  of  his  prizes  until  he  received  further  orders 
from  the  home  Government. 

After  a  vast  amount  of  mental  suffering  he  suc- 
ceeded, by  his  personal  credit  with  distinguished 
French  noblemen.  Count  d'Orvilliers  and  the  Duke 
de  Chartres,  in  raising  money  to  meet  his  immediate 
and  most  pressing  wants,  and  in  refitting  both  the 
Ranger  and  the  Drake  for  sea.  The  British  seamen 
who  were  prisoners,  if  released,  would  be  immediately 
forced  on  board  the  British  men-of-war  to  mar 
their  guns.  It  was  also  necessary  to  retain  them  to 
effect  exchanges  for  our  own  captive  countrymen, 
whom  the  British  were  treating  with  such  great  bar- 
barity. In  his  letters  to  the  Government  he  urged 
the  imperious  necessity  of  supplying  the  seamen  with 
the  little  necessaries  and  comfort*  of  life.  He  also, 
while  entreating  that  the  EngHsh  prisoners  should 
be  treated  with  kindness,  and  all  their  needful  wantf 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BREST.      ^  9I 

supplied  urged  that  they  should  by  no  means  h< 
released  without  an  exchange.  He  now,  during 
several  months,  passed  through  a  series  of  trials,  mor- 
tifications, and  disappointments,  a  detail  of  which 
would  but  weary  the  reader.  In  carefully  examining 
his  voluminous  correspondence,  during  this  season  of 
trial,  when  his  whole  soul  was  glowing  with  the  de- 
sire for  active  service,  and  when  the  inactivity  to 
which  he  was  doomed  was,  to  him,  almost  insupport- 
able, I  cannot  find  a  single  expression  unworthy  of 
his  noble  character,  as  a  self-denying  patriot,  a  gal- 
lant officer,  and  a  humane  gentleman. 

Hum.anity  required  that  England  should  feel  the 
horrors  of  war  which  she  was  so  mercilessly  inflicting 
upon  her  infant  colonies.  In  no  other  way  could 
she  be  induced  to  sheathe  the  sword.  He  proposed 
to  the  Commissioners  in  Paris  another  expedition,  of 
three  fast-sailing  frigates,  to  destroy  three  hundred 
vessels  in  the  harbor  at  Whitehaven,  to  burn  the 
town,  and  to  destroy  the  important  coal-works  there. 

As  time  would  be  requisite  to  prepare  for  so  im- 
portant an  expedition,  he  proposed  that  a  smallci 
force  should  immediately  be  fitted  out,  to  harass 
the  northern  coasts  of  Great  Britain,  and  to  lay 
contributions  upon  the  important  towns.  On  the 
iOth  of  July,  1778,  Dr.  Franklin  wrote  him   saying: 

'*  In  consequence  of  the  high  opinion  which  th« 


92  PAUL  JONES. 

Minister  of  Marine  has  of  your  conduct  and  bravery 
it  is  now  settled  that  you  are  to  have  the  frigate 
from  Holland,  which  will  be  furnished  with  a«  man}' 
good  French  seamen  as  you  may  require.  As  }  ou 
may  like  to  have  a  number  of  Americans,  and  your 
own  crew  are  homesick,  it  is  proposed  to  give  you 
as  many  as  you  can  engage,  out  of  two  hundred 
prisoners  which  the  ministry  of  Britain  have,  at 
length,  agreed  to  give  in  exchange  for  those  you 
have  in  your  hands.  They  propose  to  make  the  ex- 
change at  Calais,  where  they  are  to  bring  the  Ameri- 
cans. The  project  of  giving  you  the  command  of 
this  ship  pleases  me  the  more,  as  it  is  a  probable 
opening  to  the  higher  preferment  you  so  justly 
merit." 

The  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Simpson  had  been 
exasperating  in  the  highest  degree,  and  yet  Captair 
Jones  wrote  to  the  Commissioners,  on  the  4th  of 
July: 

"  Lieutenant  Simpson  has  certainly  behaved 
amiss.  Yet  I  can  forgive  as  well  as  resent.  Upon 
his  making  a  proper  concession,  I  will,  with  your 
approbation,  not  only  forgive  the  past,  but  leav€ 
him  the  command  of  the  Ranger." 

In  anticipation  of  a  speedy  command.  Captain 
Jones  was  anxious  to  secure  the  services  of  a  chap, 
lain.     In  a  communication  to    a    friend  whom  he 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BRESl.  93 

desired  to  asist  him  in  obtaining  such  an  officer,  he 
wrote ; 

"  I  should  wish  the  chaplain  to  be  a  man 
jf  reading  and  of  letters,  who  understands,  speaks, 
and  writes  the  French  and  English  with  elegance 
and  propriety.  For  political  reasons  it  would  be 
well  if  he  were  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  pro- 
fession, whose  sanctity  of  manners,  and  happy,  natu- 
ral principles  would  diffuse  unanimity  and  cheer- 
fulness through  the  ship.  Such  a  man  would  be 
worthy  of  the  highest  confidence." 

On  the  loth  of  August,  Captain  Jones  repaired 
to  Brest,  expecting  to  be  put  in  command  of  th« 
splendid  ship  which  had  been  promised.  This  ship 
belonged  to  the  Government.  To  his  bitter  disap- 
pointment he  found  that  it  had  been  assigned  to 
another  man.  Lieutenant  Simpson  sailed  to  America 
in  the  Ranger.  The  Drake  was  a  shattered  prize  as 
yet  unsold.  Captain  Jones  was  left  in  the  humili- 
ating position  of  an  adventurer  out  of  employment. 
He  wrote  to  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  with  the  appro- 
val of  Dr.  Franklin,  earnestly  imploring  a  commission 
under  the  French  flag.     In  his  letter  he  wrote : 

"  Suffer  me  not,  I  beseech,  you  to  continiie  longer 
In  this  shameful  inactivity.  Such  dishonor  is  wors« 
to  me  than  a  thousand  deaths.  I  have  already  lost 
the  golden  season,  the  summer,  which,  in  war,  is  of 


94  PAUL  JONES. 

more  value  than  all  the  rest  of  the  year.  I  appeal 
here  as  a  person  cast  off  and  useless.  When  any 
one  asks  me  what  I  purpose  to  do,  I  am  unable  to 
answer." 

Dr.  Franklin  transmitted  this  letter,  and  wrote 
to  Captain  Jones :  "  Your  letter  was  sent  to  the 
Prince  of  Nassau.  I  am  confident  that  something  will 
be  done  for  you,  though  I  do  not  yet  know  what 
I  sympathize  with  you  in  what  I  know  you  must  suf- 
fer from  your  present  inactivity ;  but  have  patience." 

It  was  proposed  that  he  should  take  command 
of  a  prize-ship  taken  from  the  English.  Examin- 
ing the  ship,  and  finding  that  she  sailed  slow,  and 
had  but  a  feeble  armament,  he  unqualifiedly  rejected 
her.  Writing  to  M,  Chaumont,  a  wealthy  French 
gentleman,  who  had  great  influence  with  the  Gov- 
ernment, he  said : 

"  I  wish  to  have  no  connection  w^ith  any  ship  that 
does  not  sail  fast.  For  I  intend  to  go  in  harm's  way. 
You  know,  I  believe,  that  this  is  not  every  one's 
intention.  Therefore  buy  a  frigate  that  sails  fast  and 
that  is  sufficiently  large  to  carry  twenty-six  or  twenty- 
eight  guns,  not  less  than  twelve-pounders,  on  one 
deck.  I  would  rather  be  shot  ashore  than  sent  to  scs 
in  such  things  as  the  armed  prizes  I  have  described." 

An  offer  was  made  by  a  wealthy  merchant 
«f  Nantes,  M.  Montieu,  to  place  Captain  Jones  :*« 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BREST.  95 

a  first-class  ship,  thoroughly  armed,  to  proceed  on  a 
privateerinrj  expedition.     He  replied  : 

"  Were  I  in  pursuit  of  profit,  I  should  accept  the 
offer  without  hesitation.  But  I  am  under  such  obli- 
gations to  Congress  that  I  cannot  think  myself  my 
own  master.  And  as  a  servant  of  the  imperial  repub- 
lie  of  America,  honored  with  the  public  approbation 
of  my  past  services,  I  cannot,  from  my  own  author- 
ity or  inclination,  serve  either  myself  or  my  best 
friends  in  any  private  line  whatsoever,  unless  where 
the  honor  and  interest  of  America  is  the  premier 
object." 

War  was  now  openly  declared  between  France 
and  England.  The  colonies  could  not  furnish  Captain 
Jones  with  a  suitable  frigate,  and  there  were  many 
French  naval  officers  eager  to  take  command  of 
such  ships  as  the  king  could  furnish.  Consequently 
the  prospects  of  Captain  Jones,  notwithstanding  his 
high  reputation  for  both  bravery  and  ability,  were 
very  dark.  In  this  emergence,  and  consumed  with 
the  desire  for  active  service,  he  wrote  a  letter  to  the 
king.  In  this  letter,  after  a  very  truthful  and  very 
modest  narrative  of  his  past  experience  he  says  : 

"  Thus  have  I  been  chained  down  to  shameful 
inactivity  for  five  months.  I  have  lost  the  best  sea^ 
son  of  the  year,  and  such  opportunities  of  serving 
mv  country  and  acquiring  honor  as  I  cannot  agaip 


96  PAUL  JONES. 

expect  during  this  war.     And,  to  my  infinite  morti 
Bcation,  having  no  command,  I  am  considered  every- 
where as  an  officer  cast  off,  and  in  disgrace  for  secret 
reasons. 

"  Having  written  to  Congress  to  reserve  no  com 
mand  for  me  in  America,  my  sensibility  is  the  more 
affected  by  this  unworthy  situation  in  the  sight  of 
your  majesty's  fleet.  Although  I  wish  not  to  become 
my  own  panegyrist,  I  must  beg  your  majesty's  per- 
mission to  observe  that  I  am  not  an  adventurer  in 
search  of  fortune,  of  which,  thank  God,  I  have  a  suf- 
ficiency. 

**  WJien  the  American  banners  were  first  dis- 
[)layed,  I  drew  my  sword  in  support  of  the  violated 
dignity  and  rights  of  human  nature.  And  both 
honor  and  duty  prompt  me  steadfastly  to  continue 
the  righteous  pursuit,  and  to  sacrifice  to  it  not  only 
my  private  enjoyments,  but  even  Hfe,  if  necessary.  1 
must  acknowledge  that  the  generous  praise  which  I 
have  received  from  Congress  and  others,  exceeds  the 
m.erit  of  my  past  services,  and  therefore  I  the  more 
ardently  wish  for  future  opportunities  of  testifying 
my  gratitude  by  my  activity. 

"  As  your  majesty,  by  espousing  the  cause  of 
America,  has  become  the  protector  of  the  rights  of 
human  nature,  I  am  persuaded  that  you  will  not  dia 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BREST.  97 

regard  my  situation,  nor  suffer  me  to  remain  any 
longer  in  this  insupportable  disgrace.  "* 

This  letter  was  enclosed  in  one  to  the  Duchess 
of  Chartres,  with  whom  he  was  personally  acquainted, 
and  from  whom  he  had  received  kind  attentions 
He  besought  her  to  present  the  letter  to  his  majesty 
the  king ;  which  she  did. 

One  day,  chance  threw  into  Captain  Jones's 
hands  an  old  almanac,  containing  Poor  Richard's 
Maxims,  by  Doctor  Franklin.  In  that  curious 
medley  of  wit  and  wisdom,  poor  Richard  is  repre- 
sented as  saying : 

"  If  you  wish  to  have  any  business  done  faith- 
fully and  expeditiously,  go  and  do  it  yourself.  Other- 
wise, send  some  one.'* 

The  maxim  impressed  Jones  deeply.  He  pon- 
dered it,  and  decided  that  he  had  acted  very  unwisely 
in  writing  so  many  letters,  instead  of  going  directly 
to  court,  and  making  personal  solicitations.  Imme- 
diately he  set  out  for  Versailles,  in  whose  gorgeous 
palace  the  royal  family  and  court  were  then  residing. 
Such  was  the  potency  of  his  presence  that  in  a  few 
days,  on  the  4th  of  February,  1779,  he  received  from 
M.  De  Sartine,  the  French  Minister  of  Marine,  the 
following  exhilarating  letter : 
S 


9S  PAUL  JONES, 

"  To  John  Paul  Jones,  Esq., 

"  Commander  of  the  American  Navy  in  Europe. 
"  Sir — I  announce  to  you  that,  in  consequence 
of  the  exposition  I  have  laid  before  the  king,  of  the 
distinguished  manner  in  which  you  have  served  the 
United  States,  and  of  the  entire  confidence  which 
your  conduct  has  merited  from  Congress,  his  ma- 
jesty has  thought  proper  to  place  you  in  command 
of  the  ship  Duras,  of  forty  guns,  at  present  at 
L'Orient.  I  am  about,  in  consequence,  to  issue  the 
necessary  orders  for  the  complete  armament  of  that 
ship. 

"  The  commission  which  was  given  you,  at  your 
departure  from  America,  will  authorize  you  to  hoist 
the  flag  of  the  United  States,  and  you  will  likewise 
make  use  of  the  authority  which  has  been  vested  in 
you,  to  procure  a  crew  of  Americans.  But  as  you 
may  find  difficulty  in  raising  a  sufficient  number,  the 
king  permits  you  to  levy  volunteers,  until  you  obtain 
men  enough,  in  addition  to  those  who  will  be  neces- 
sary to  sail  the  ship.  It  shall  be  my  care  to  procure 
the  necessary  officers,  and  you  may  be  assured  that 
I  shall  contribute  every  aid  in  my  power  to  promote 
the  success  of  your  enterprise. 

"  As  soon  as  you  are  prepared  for  sea,  you  will 
set  sail  without  waiting  for  any  ulterior  orders;  and 
you  will  yourself  select  your  own  cruising  ground, 


AT  NANTES  AND  AT  BRESl  99 

dther  in  the  European  or  American  seas,  observing 
always  to  render  me  an  exact  account  of  each  event, 
that  may  take  place  during  your  cruise,  as  often  as 
you  may  enter  any  port  under  the  dominion  of  the 
king. 

No  one  can  describe  the  satisfaction  with  which 
Captain  Jones  read  this  communication.  Feeling 
that  his  success  was  due  to  the  good  advice  which 
he  had  received  from  Poor  Richard,  he  asked  leave 
to  give  his  ship  that  name,  or  as  translated  into 
French,  the  name  of  Ben  Homme  Richard.  Captain 
Jones,  in  his  gratefy-'  reply  to  the  Minister  of  Marine, 
writes : 

"  I  take  the  earhest  opportunity  to  offer  you  my 
sincere  and  grateful  thanks,  for  so  singular  and  hon- 
orable a  mark  of  your  confidence  and  approbation. 
Your  having  permitted  me  lo  alter  the  name  of  the 
ship,  has  given  me  a  pleasing  opportunity  of  paying 
a  well-merited  compliment  to  a  great  and  good  man 
CO  whom  I  am  under  obligations,  and  who  hoEoss 
me  with  his  friendship." 


CHAPTER  V. 
Cruise  of  tlu  Bo?i  Homme  Richard, 

fUaii  of  Lafayette. — Correspondence. — Humane  Instr-ctioas  <A 
Franklin. — Proposed  Invasion  of  England. — Sailing  of  tii« 
Squadron. — Conduct  of  Pierre  Landais. — The  Collision.— Ad- 
ventures of  the  Cruise. — Insane  Actions  of  Landais. — Plan  fof 
Capture. — Plan  for  the  Capture  of  Leith  and  Edinburgh. 

Captain  Jones  eagerly  repaired  to  L'Orient  to 
inspect  his  ship  and  prepare  her  for  service.  He 
found  that  she  was  adapted  to  mount  a  battery  of 
eighteen-pounders.  He  then  hastened  to  Bordeaux, 
to  order  the  casting  of  the  cannon.  Lafayette  was 
at  that  time  in  America,  cooperating  with  the  army 
under  Washington.  Congress  built  a  frigate  of 
thirty-six  guns,  which  was  named  the  Alliance,  out 
of  compliment  to  the  recent  alliance  with  France. 
Congress  also,  in  expression  of  gratitude  to  France, 
appointed  a  French  officer,  Pierre  Landais,  in  com- 
mand of  the  frigate.  The  Alliance  was  sent  out  to 
France  to  cooperate  with  Captain  Jones,  and  tock 
Lafayette  as  a  passenger. 

The  disting-ui^ihed  French  marquis  was  well  fiiC- 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON   HOMME   RICHARD  lOl 

quainted  with  the  reputation  of  Captain  Jones,  as  a 
courteous  and  high-minded  gentleman,  as  well  as 
one  of  the  bravest  and  most  skilful  of  naval  officers. 
He  wished  to  join  Jones  in  his  projected  expedition, 
In  conference  with  Dr.  Franklin,  at  Paris,  it  was  de- 
cided that  Lafayette  should  embark  in  the  fleet  with 
a  land  force  of  seven  hundred  picked  men,  over 
whom  he  was  to  have  the  supreme  control.  Captain 
Jones  was  to  have  the  undivided  naval  command. 
The  Alliance,  which  was  a  very  fine  and  fast  frigate, 
was  to  be  joined  to  his  squadron.  In  reference  to 
this  contemplated  expedition,  Dr.  Franklin  address- 
ed a  letter  to  Captain  Jones,  containing  the  following 
judicious  counsel : 

*'  The  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  will  soon  be  with 
you.  It  has  been  observed,  that  joint  expeditions 
of  land  and  sea  forces  often  miscarry,  through  jeal- 
ousies and  misunderstandings  between  the  officers 
of  the  different  corps.  This  must  happen  where 
there  are  little  minds,  actuated  more  by  personal 
views  of  profit  or  honor  to  themselves,  than  by  the 
warm  and  sincere  desire  of  good  to  their  country. 
Knowing  you  both,  as  I  do,  I  am  confident  that 
nothing  of  the  kind  can  happen  between  you.  I 
look  upon  this  expedition  only  as  an  introduction  tc 
greater  trusts  and  more  extensive  commands,  and  as 
2  kind  of  trial  of  both  your  abilities,  and  of  your  fifc> 


102  PAUL  JONFS. 

ness  in  temper  and  disposition  for  acting  in  concert 
with  others. 

"  As  this  is  understood  to  be  an  American  expe- 
dition under  the  Congressional  commission  and 
colors,  the  Marquis,  who  is  a  major-general  in  that 
service,  has  of  course,  the  step  in  point  of  rank,  and 
he  must  have  command  of  the  land  forces,  which  are 
committed  by  the  king  to  his  care.  But  the  com- 
mand of  the  ships  will  be  entirely  in  you,  in  which 
I  am  persuaded  that  whatever  authority  his  rank 
might,  in  strictness,  give  him,  he  will  not  have  the 
least  desire  to  interfere  with  you.  The  circumstance 
is  indeed  a  little  unusual.  For  there  is  not  only  a 
junction  of  land  and  sea  forces,  but  there  is  also  a 
junction  of  Frenchmen  and  Americans,  which  in- 
creases the  difficulty  of  maintaining  a  good  under- 
standing. A  cool,  prudent  conduct  in  the  chief,  is 
therefore  the  more  necessary,  and  I  trust,  neither 
of  you  will,  in  that  respect,  be  deficient.*' 

The  following  instructions  were  also  added  to 
the  letter.  But  when  Dr.  Franklin  subsequently 
heard  of  the  burning  of  Fairfield  and  other  towns  in 
America,  and  of  the  fiend  like  cruelties  which  the 
English  officers  were  authorizing,  he  was  doubtful 
whether  the  circumstances  did  not  demand  more 
severe  retaliation. 

"  As  many  of  your  officers  and  people  have  /e- 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME   RICHARD.         103 

cently  escaped  from  English  prisons,  you  are  to  be 
particularly  attentive  to  their  conduct  toward  the 
prisoners  which  the  fortune  of  war  may  throw  into 
your  hands,  lest  the  resentment  of  the  more  than 
barbarous  usage  by  the  English  in  many  places  to- 
ward the  Americans,  should  occasion  a  retaliation 
and  imitation  of  what  ought  rather  to  be  detested 
and  avoided  for  the  sake  of  humanity  and  for  the 
honor  of  our  country. 

"Although  the  English  have  wantonly  burnt 
many  defenceless  towns  in  America,  you  are  not  to 
follow  this  example,  unless  when  a  reasonable  ran- 
som is  refused  ;  in  which  case,  your  own  generous 
feelings,  as  well  as  this  instruction,  will  induce  you  to 
give  timely  notice  of  your  intention,  that  sick  and 
ancient  persons,  women  and  children,  may  be  first 
removed." 

In  reply  to  this  communication,  Captain  Jones 
wrote  :  "  The  letter  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  from 
you  to-day,  together  with  your  liberal  and  noble- 
minded  instructions,  would  make  a  coward  brave. 
You  have  called  up  every  sentiment  of  public  virtue 
in  my  breast,  and  it  shall  be  my  pride  and  ambition, 
in  the  strict  pursuit  of  your  instructions,  to  deserve 
auccess. 

"  Be  assured,  that  very  few  prospects  could  afford 
ne  so  true  a  satisfaction  as  that  of  rendering  some 


f04  PAUL  JONES. 

icceptable  service  to  the  common  cause,  and  at  the 
same  time  of  relieving  from  captivity,  by  furnishing 
the  means  of  exchange,  our  unfortunate  fellow-sub- 
jects, from  the  hands  of  the  enemy." 

Captain  Jones  then  wrote  to  Lafayette :  "  So  flat- 
tering and  affectionate  a  proof  of  your  esteem  and 
friendship  has  made  an  impression  on  my  mind  that 
will  attend  me  while  I  live.  This  I  hope  to  prove 
by  more  than  words.  Where  men  of  fine  feelings 
are  concerned  there  is  seldom  misunderstanding. 
And  I  am  sure  that  I  should  do  violence  to  my  sen- 
sibility if  I  were  capable  of  giving  you  a  moment's 
pain  by  any  part  of  my  conduct.  Therefore,  with- 
out any  apology,  I  shall  expect  you  to  point  out  my 
errors,  when  we  are  together  alone,  with  perfect 
freedom ;  and  I  think  I  dare  promise  you  your  re- 
proof shall  not  be  lost.  I  have  received  from  the 
good  Dr.  Franklin  instructions  at  large,  which  it 
will  give  me  the  truest  satisfaction  to  execute." 

Much  to  Captain  Jones's  disappointment  this 
proposed  cooperation  with  Lafayette  was  soon 
abandoned.  Spain  was  preparing  to  unite  v/ith 
France  and  America  against  England.  An  invasion 
of  the  island  of  Great  Britain,  by  the  allies,  was  ccn> 
templated.  Large  forces  were  raised  in  the  north- 
em  provinces  of  France,  and  marched  to  the  coast, 
while  general  officers  were  named  to  conduct  the 


CRUISE   OF  THE   BON   HOMME   RICiiAKD.        IO5 

enterprise.     Lafayette  was  appointed  to  command  a 
portion  of  this  army,     in  his  letter  to  Jones,  inform 
ing  him  of  the  change  which  the  ministry  had  made 
in  his  plans,  he  wrote  : 

"  I  am  only  to  tell  you,  my  good  friend,  how 
sorry  I  feel  not  to  be  a  witness  of  your  success,  abili- 
ties, and  glory." 

The  Richard  was  soon  fitted  for  sea  with  a  bat- 
tery of  forty  guns  ;  six  only  of  these  were  eighteen 
pounders.  The  rest  were  of  but  twelve-pound 
calibre.  There  were  three  hundred  and  twenty-nine 
officers  and  privates  on  the  muster-roll.  The  crew 
had  been  hastily  gathered  from  American  prisoners 
rescued  from  the  English  prisons,  from  French  peafj- 
ants,  and  from  vagabond  EngHsh  sailors  who  were 
ready  to  enlist  under  any  flag  for  the  money.  There 
were  not  more  than  thirty  Americans  among  the 
crew. 

Four  other  vessels  composed  the  little  squadron 
The  American  frigate  Alliance,  of  thirty-six  guns, 
was  under  the  command  of  the  French  officer,  to 
whom  we  have  before  alluded,  Pierre  Landais.  The 
conduct  of  this  officer  was  so  extraordinary  that  it 
can  only  be  accounted  for  on  the  supposition  that 
he  was  actually  insane.  The  Pallas  mounted  thirty-- 
two  guns.  It  was  a  merchant-ship,  purchased  by 
the  King  of  France  and  hastily  fitted  up  at  Nantes 
5* 


I06  PAUL  JONES. 

The   Cerf  had  eighteen   guns,  and  the   Vengeance 
twelve. 

The  state  of  affairs  on  board  the  Alliance  wa« 
such  that  the  frigate  was  no  help,  but  rather  a  hin 
drance  to  the  enterprise.  The  crew  were  in  a  state 
boidering  on  open  mutiny.  The  first  and  second 
lieutenants  had  deserted.  The  captain  and  his 
other  officers  were  in  a  state  of  open  and  shameful 
hostility,  ready  to  cut  each  other's  throats.  The 
Vengeance  was  also  a  merchant  vessel,  very  poorly 
prepared  for  battle.  The  Cerf  was  a  fine  cutter,  and 
the  only  vessel  in  the  squadron  which  was  well  fitted 
and  manned. 

Captain  Jones,  who  ever  sought  the  most  heroic 
enterprises,  had  formed  the  bold  plan  of  appalling 
England  by  the  capture  of  the  city  of  Liverpool. 
But  the  withdrawal  of  Lafayette  and  his  land  forces 
from  the  expedition  rendered  it  necessary^  to  aban- 
don this  all-important  measure.  The  squadron  was 
first  employed  in  convoying  a  fleet  of  merchant  ves- 
sels down  the  coast  of  France,  a  distance  of  about 
two  hundred  miles,  from  L'Orient  to  Bordeaux,  and 
to  drive  all  of  the  English  cruisers  out  of  the  Bay  of 
Biscay. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  of  June,  Pierre  Landais 
contrived  to  run  the  AUiance  upon  the  Richard. 
He  thus  lost  his  own  mizzen-mast,  while  he  tore  away 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME  RICHARD.        Ip7 

the  head  and  bowsprit  of  the  Richard.  This  pre- 
^nded  accident  was  probably  intentional.  It  soon 
became  evident  that  he  would  be  glad  to  cripple  the 
Richard,  probably  hoping  that  she  would  be  sent 
back  for  repairs,  and  that  he,  instead  of  being  a  sub- 
ordinate, might  be  intrusted  with  the  supreme  com- 
mand of  the  expedition.  Through  all  the  confusion 
of  the  scene,  when,  in  almost  midnight  darkness  and 
on  a  stormy  sea,  both  vessels  were  in  imminent  peril 
of  being  sunk,  with  all  their  crews,  he  behaved  like 
a  madman.  It  was  attested,  by  the  officers,  in  the 
trial  which  took  place — 

**  That  the  captain  of  the  Alliance  did  not  take 
the  steps  in  his  power  to  prevent  his  ship  from  get- 
ting foul  of  the  Richard ;  for  instead  of  putting  his 
helm  aweather,  and  bearing  up  to  make  way  for  his 
commanding  officer,  which  was  his  duty,  he  left  the 
deck  to  load  his  pistols.'* 

The  next  day  a  British  vessel  hove  in  sight. 
Captain  Jones  found  that  the  Richard  proved  to  be 
a  lumbering  concern  and  a  slow  sailer.  He  there- 
fore sent  the  swifter-winged  cutter  Cerf  in  pursuit 
of  the  stranger.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
Cerf  carried  but  eighteen  guns.  The  vessel  proved 
to  be  a  war-sloop  of  fourteen  guns.  A  warm  engage- 
ment took  place.  The  thunders  of  this  naval  tem- 
pest swept  the  ocean  far  and  wide.     The  Cerf  was 


I08  PAUL  JONES. 

victorious.  Grappling  her  battered  and  blood-staine<i 
prize,  she  was  making  her  way  back  to  the  squad- 
ron when  a  large  British  frigate  bore  down  upon 
her.  The  Cerf,  maimed  by  the  conflict,  was  com- 
pelled to  abandon  her  prize,  and  escaping  to  the 
squadron,  was  sent  back  to  L'Orient  to  refit. 

The  next  day  three  British  ships-of-war  were  dis- 
cerned far  away  to  the  windward.  Jones,  with  his 
four  vessels,  bore  down  upon  them.  The  frigates, 
seeing  that  they  were  outnumbered,  escaped  by 
superior  sailing.  A  few  days  after  this  there  was  a 
fog.  Though  Captain  Jones  fired  signal  guns,  to 
keep  his  squadron  together,  when  the  fog  cleared 
away  neither  the  Alliance  nor  the  Pallas  was  any- 
where to  be  seen.  Captain  Jones  was  thus  left  with 
but  two  vessels ;  and  his  own,  the  Richard,  was  so 
seriously  damaged  by  the  collision  with  the  Alliance, 
that  it  was  needful  to  make  port  as  speedily  as  pos- 
sible, at  L'Orient,  for  repairs. 

When  a  few  leagues  from  L'Orient,  between 
Belle  Isle  and  the  Isle  of  Croix,  he  gave  the  Ven- 
geance permission  to  run  into  the  harbor  while  he 
moved  slowly  along  with  his  disabled  ship.  Thus 
he  was  left  alone.  After  the  Vengeance  had  left  him, 
in  the  night  of  the  31st  of  June,  two  British  war- 
vessels  attacked  him.  In  his  crippled  state  his  vessel 
amounted  to  but  little  excepting  a  floating  battery 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON   HOMME  RICHARD.         IO9 

But  he  served  his  guns  so  well  and  gave  his  foes  so 
warm  a  reception,  that  they  speedily  retired. 

**  They  appeared  at  first,"  writes  Jones,  *'  earnest 
to  engage,  but  their  courage  failed,  and  they  fled 
with  precipitation,  and  to  my  mortification  out- 
sailed the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and  got  clear." 

The  Richard  had  proved  a  failure.  Upon  inspec- 
tion at  L'Orient,  she  was  pronounced  to  be  unworthy 
of  the  great  alterations  essential  to  fit  her  for  a  suc- 
cessful campaign.  The  ship  was,  however,  tinkered 
up  for  temporary  service,  and  again  Captain  Jones 
was  sent  forth  to  cruise  in  the  Channel,  with  a  small 
squadron,  under  circumstances  which  would  have 
disheartened  any  man  of  ordinary  temperament. 

At  daybreak  on  the  14th  of  August,  1779,  ^^^ 
vessels  weighed  anchor  from  the  harbor  of  L'Orient. 
The  squadron  consisted  of  the  same  vessels  which 
had  sailed  before,  and  all  of  which  had  rendezvoused 
at  L'Orient.  Two  French  privateers  also  sailed  in 
company,  the  Monsieur  and  the  Granville.  When 
four  days  out,  on  the  i8th,  the  fleet  came  in  sight 
of  a  large  French  ship  which  had  been  captured  by 
an  English  privateer.  A  British  crew  was  hurrying 
with  the  prize  to  the  nearest  British  port.  The 
squadron  gave  chase,  and  the  prize  was  overtaken 
and  recaptured  by  the  swift-sailing  privateer  Mon* 
sieur      This  fire  ship  carried  forty  guns. 


no  PAUL  JONES. 

The  piivateersman  assumed  that  the  prize  was. 
Lis  own  property,  to  which  the  squadron  had  no 
claim.  He  therefore,  in  the  night,  dropping  astern, 
took  from  the  prize  such  articles  as  he  needed,  and 
placed  a  portion  of  his  crew  and  one  of  his  own 
officers  on  board  to  hold  possession.  But  Captain 
Jones  promptly  reversed  this  decision,  and  sent  the 
prize,  under  his  own  orders,  to  L'Orient,  to  be  dis 
posed  of  in  accordance  with  the  laws  provided  for 
such  an  occasion.  The  captain  of  the  Monsieur  was 
so  displeased  with  his  manifestly  just  decision,  that 
the  next  day  he  separated  from  the  squadron. 

Two  days  after,  on  the  20th  of  August,  another 
large  ship  was  caught  sight  of,  far  away  to  the  wind- 
ward. The  squadron  gave  chase,  but  the  ship 
escaped.  The  next  day  another  ship  was  seen  in 
the  distant  horizon,  and  pursued.  But  being  to  the 
windward,  she  also  escaped.  While  engaged  in  the 
chase,  one  of  the  squadron  overtook  a  brig  laden 
with  provisions,  bound  for  London.  She  was  easily 
captured,  and  under  a  prize  crew  was  sent  into 
L'Orient. 

On  the  23d,  the  squadron  was  in  sight  of  Cape 
Clear,  the  extreme  southwestern  point  of  Ireland. 
Scarcely  a  breath  of  wind  rippled  the  mirrored  surface 
of  the  sea.  The  sails  flapped  idly  against  the  masts 
as  the  vessels  gently  rolled  on  the  vast  ocean  swells. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME   RICHARD.        Ill 

Far  away  in  the  northwest  a  brig  was  seen.  The 
calm  prevented  any  advance  of  the  squadron.  Cap- 
tain Jones  sent  two  large  boats,  well  manned,  and 
propelled  by  oars,  to  capture  the  vessel. 

The  afternoon  wore  away,  and  as  evening  came 
on  it  was  perceived  that  a  strong  ocean  current  was 
sweeping  the  Richard  into  a  very  dangerous  position, 
between  two  rocks,  called  the  Skallocks  and  the 
Blaskets.  The  captain  sent  out  his  own  barge,  with 
strong  rowers,  to  tow  the  ship  from  her  dangerous 
course.  About  one-third  of  the  crew  were  English 
sailors.  The  best  men  had  been  sent  off  in  the  boats 
to  capture  the  brig.  He  had  therefore  to  man  his 
barge  mainly  with  the  English.  They  were  unprin- 
cipled adventurers,  and  when  night  came  on  they 
cut  the  tow-rope,  and  pulled  for  the  shore. 

The  evening  was  clear  and  serene.  Mr.  Trent, 
who  occupied  the  position  of  sailing-master  on  board 
the  Richard,  immediately  sprang  into  another  of  the 
ship's  boats,  with  a  few  armed  men,  and  pursued  the 
deseiters.  At  the  same  time  several  cannon-shot 
were  unavailingly  thrown  at  them.  A  fog  came 
on,  and  the  pursuing  boat  was  lost  in  the  darkness. 
The  deserters  reached  the  shore  and  escaped.  The 
fog  continued,  a  genuine  English  fog,  until  noon  of 
the  next  day.    The  boats  sent  to  capture  the  brig 


112  PAUI.   JONES. 

wete  successful.  The  crews  under  the  command  oi 
the  lieutenant  took  possession  of  the  prize. 

The  Cerf  was  sent  to  reconnoitre  the  coast,  and  to 
endeavor  to  recover  the  two  lost  boats,  the  barge  and 
the  boat  sent  in  pursuit  of  it.  Approaching  near  the 
shore,  the  Cerf,  to  avoid  detection,  raised  English 
colors.  Mr.  Trent,  catching  sight  of  the  hostile  flag, 
fearing  capture,  ran  his  boat  ashore,  where  he  and  his 
crew  were  made  prisoners.  They  were  thrown  inta 
a  wretched  dungeon,  where  the  unhappy  Mr.  Trent 
lingered  until  death  came  to  his  relief. 

Thus  the  Richard  lost  two  important  boats.  In 
the  afternoon,  Pierre  Landais  came  on  board  the 
Richard,  and,  even  assuming  an  arrogant  air  of 
superiority,  affirmed,  in  a  very  insulting  manner, 
that  Captain  Jones  had  lost  two  boats  and  their 
crews  from  his  folly  in  sending  boats  to  capture  a 
brig.  He  erroneously  supposed  that  the  lost  boats 
were  the  two  which  had  first  been  sent  out ;  whereas 
they  had  been  entirely  successful,  and  had  triumph- 
antly accomplished  their  mission.  Captain  Jones 
listened  calmly  to  his  impertinent  tirade,  and  then, 
with  the  courtesy  of  a  true  gentleman,  replied: 

"  It  is  not  true,"  Captain  Landais,  "  that  the 
boats  which  are  lost,  are  the  two  which  were  sent  to 
capture  the  brig." 

The  irate  Frenchman,  almost  insane  with  pa* 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME   RICHARD.         II3 

sion,  whirled  upon  his  heel,  and  exclaimed,  to  an 
officer  who  accompanied  him,  "  He  tells  me  I  lie^ 

The  gestures  of  Landais  were  as  rude  and  insult- 
ing as  his  language.  Lieutenants  Weibert  and 
Chamillard  endeavored  to  soothe  the  unreasonably 
angry  man.  But  all  was  in  vain.  He  raved  like  a 
maniac.  Through  all  this  scene,  so  disgraceful  to 
the  Frenchman,  Captain  Jones  maintained  a  tranquil 
spirit.  The  conduct  of  Landais  was  so  violent  and 
so  utterly  unreasonable,  that  Captain  Jones  charita- 
bly excused  him,  on  the  supposition  that  there  was 
a  vein  of  insanity  in  his  nature. 

The  Cerf  was  utterly  lost  in  the  fog.  The  next 
night  a  violent  storm  arose,  and  the  cutter,  finding 
Itself  hopelessly  separated  from  the  squadron,  re- 
turned to  France.  The  privateer  Granville,  which 
mounted  fourteen  guns,  having  secured  a  prize,  has- 
tened with  it  back  to  a  French  port.  The  modera- 
tion displayed  by  Captain  Jones  under  annoyances 
sufficient  to  drive  most  men  mad,  is  worthy  of  all 
praise.     In  his  journal  for  the  king  he  wrote : 

"  It  was  my  intention  to  cruise  off  the  southwest 
coast  of  Ireland  for  twelve  or  fifteen  days,  in  order 
to  intercept  the  enemy's  homeward-bound  East 
India  ships.  I  had  been  informed  tliat  they  would 
return  without  convoy,  and  would  steer  for  that 
point  of  land.    But  Captain  Landais,  of  the  Alliance 


114  J'AUL  JONES. 

began  to  speak  and  act  as  though  he  were  noi 
under  my  command.  He  made  great  objections  tc 
remaining  on  the  coast,  expressing  apprehension 
that  the  enemy  would  send  a  superior  force." 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,  as  a  violent  storm 
was  raging,  Landais  refused  to  obey  the  signal  from 
the  Richard,  and  altering  his  course,  was  not  seen 
again  for  five  days.  The  Pallas  also,  in  the  fearful 
gale,  lost  her  rudder,  and  became  in  a  great  degree 
unmanageable.  When  the  morning  of  the  27th  of 
August  dawned  luridly  upon  the  tempest-lashed 
ocean,  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  found  herself  alone 
with  the  Vengeance. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  as  the  Richard  and  the 
Vengeance  were  in  hot  chase  of  an  English  priva- 
teer, mounting  twenty-two  guns,  the  Alliance,  by 
chance,  again  appeared  in  sight.  They  were  then 
off  the  extreme  northwestern  coast  of  Ireland, 
within  sight  of  the  Hebrides.  They  had  run  along 
the  western  shore  of  Ireland.  The  All'-ance  had 
captured  a  valuable  prize,  bound  from  Liverpool  to 
Jamaica.  The  Richard  and  Vengeance  soon  over 
took  the  vessel  they  were  pursuing,  and  captured 
it,  almost  without  a  struggle.  It  proved  to  be  the 
Union,  bound  from  London  for  Quebec.  It  had  a 
;:argo  of  great  value,  consisting   of  sails,  rigging 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME  RICHARD.        IIJ 

Anchors,  cables,  and  other  essential  articles,  for  the 
war-vessels  England  was  building  on  the  lakes. 

Captain  Jones,  having  manned  from  his  crew  the 
brig  which  he  captured  off  the  northwest  of  Ireland, 
and  having  lost  the  deserters  who  filled  the  barge, 
and  twenty  of  his  best  men  who  were  sent  in  pur- 
suit of  them,  probably  could  not  well  spare  enough 
men  to  man  the  guns  of  the  prize,  so  as  to  take  her 
into  some  safe  port.  Landais  sent  the  following  in- 
sulting message  to  Captain  Jones : 

"  Do  you  wish  to  furnish  men  to  carry  the 
prize  you  have  taken  to  port,  or  do  you  wish  me  to 
furnish  men.  If  it  is  your  wish  that  I  should  take 
charge  of  the  prize,  I  shall  not  allow  any  boat  or  any 
individual  from  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  to  go  near 
her." 

Captain  Jones  was  very  anxious,  for  the  honor  of 
our  country,  and  for  the  success  of  the  cause  of 
American  liberty,  to  avoid  all  jealousies  and  bicker- 
ings with  our  allies  the  French.  He  therefore,  in 
a  spirit  of  exalted  patriotism,  endured  indignities, 
which,  under  other  circumstances  it  would  not  have 
been  his  duty  to  tolerate.  With  noble  forbearance 
he  replied  that  Captain  Landais  might  take  the  ex* 
elusive  charge  of  the  prize.  In  his  journal  for  the 
king  he  wrote : 

'*  Ridiculous  as  this  appeared  to  me,  I  yielded  to 


Il6  PAUL  JONES. 

it  for  the  sake  of  peace ;  and  received  the  prisonen 
on  board  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  while  the  prize 
was  manned  from  the  Alliance." 

It  was  needful  for  Captain  Jones  to  make  this 
statement,  in  consequence  of  the  result  which  ensued. 
The  half-crazed  Landais,  instead  of  sending  the 
prizes  directly  home  to  some  port  in  France,  proba- 
bly fearing  that  they  might  be  captured  by  some 
English  war-ship,  despatched  them  to  Bergen,  in 
Norway.  The  Danish  Government,  being  on  friendly 
terms  with  England,  gave  them  both  up  to  the 
British  ambassador.  Landais  pursued  this  strange 
course  in  direct  violation  of  the  order  he  had  re 
ceived  from  Jones.  The  value  of  the  two  prizes, 
thus  foolishly  lost,  was  estimated  to  exceed  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  another  large 
ship  appeared  in  the  horizon,  near  the  Flamie 
Islands.  As  we  have  said,  the  Richard  was  a  lumber- 
ing merchantman  of  slow  speed.  The  Alliance  was 
a  finely  built,  swift-footed  American  frigate.  Jones 
signalled  the  Alliance  to  aid  him  in  the  pursuit  by 
immediately  giving  chase.  Instead  of  obeying  the 
commands  of  the  appointed  commodore  of  the  squad- 
ron, he  deliberately  wore  ship,  and  laid  his  course  in 
the  opposite  direction.  Night  came.  The  strangei 
escaped.     In  the  morning.  Captain  Jones  sig^nalled 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME   RICHARD.         Ii; 

Landais  to  come  on  board  the  Richard.  He  wished 
to  confer  respecting  more  cordial  cooperation.  Lan- 
dais contemptuously  paid  no  regard  to  the  signal. 

The  next  morning,  which  w^as  the  2d  of  Septem- 
ber, daylight  revealed  a  sail  in  the  distance.  The 
Richard  and  the  Vengeance  gave  chase,  followed 
sullenly  by  the  Alliance.  The  ship  proved  to  be 
the  Pallas,  which  had,  in  some  way,  succeeded  in 
repairing  the  loss  of  her  rudder.  A  rendezvous  had 
been  appointed,  in  case  the  fleet  should  get  separated^ 
at  Fair  Island,  north  of  Scotland.  The  squadron 
turned  its  course  in  that  direction  hoping  to  find  the 
Cerf  there.  On  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  Sep- 
tember 3d,  the  Vengeance  captured  a  small  brig 
returning  to  England  from  Norway.  The  Alliance 
had  disappeared.  It  had  gone,  no  one  knew  where. 
The  terrible  annoyances  to  which  Captain  Jones 
was  exposed,  in  ways  innumerable,  may  be  inferred 
from  the  following  extracts  from  his  journal : 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  4th  the  Alliance  appear- 
ed again,  and  had  brought  two  very  small  coasting 
sloops  in  ballast,  but  without  having  attended  pro- 
perly to  my  order  of  yesterday.  The  Vengeance 
coined  me  soon  after,  and  informed  me  that,  in  con. 
sequence  of  Captain  Landais'  orders  to  the  com- 
manders  of  the  two  prize-ships,  they  had  refused  to 
follow  him  to  the  rendezvous.     I  am.  to  this  moment 


II«  PAUL  JONES. 

ignorant  of  what  orders  these  men  received  from 
Captain  Landais ;  nor  know  I  by  virtue  of  what 
authority  he  ventured  to  give  his  orders  to  prizes  in 
my  presence,  and  without  either  my  knowledge  oi 
approbation.  Captain  Ricot  further  informed  me 
that  he  had  burnt  the  brigantine,  because  that  ves- 
sel proved  leaky.  And  I  was  sorry  to  understand 
afterward  that,  though  the  vessel  was  Irish  pro 
perty,  the  cargo  was  the  property  of  subjects  of 
Norway. 

"  In  the  evening  I  sent  for  all  the  captains  to 
come  on  board  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  to  consult 
on  future  plans  of  operations.  Captains  Cottineau 
and  Ricot  obeyed  me ;  but  Captain  Landais  obsti- 
nately  refused,  and  after  sending  me  various  uncivil 
messages,  wrote  me  a  very  extraordinary  letter,  in 
answer  to  a  written  order  which  I  had  sent  him  or. 
finding  that  he  had  trifled  with  my  verbal  orders." 

Three  of  the  officers  of  the  other  ships,  gallant 
officers  and  courteous  gentlemen,  Mt*srs.  Mease, 
Cottineau,  and  Chamillard,  went  on  board  the  Alli- 
ance to  endeavor  to  persuade  Landais  not  to  pursue 
a  course  so  ruinous  to  the  efficiency  of  the  expedi- 
tion. The  angry  man  would  not  listen  to  the  voice 
of  reason.  He  spoke  of  Captain  Jones  in  the  most 
contemptuous  and  insulting  terms.  He  even  went 
no  far  as  to  say : 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON   HOMME  RICHARD.         II9 

"  I  will  soon  meet  Captain  Jones  on  shore, 
Then  I  will  either  kill  him  or  he  shall  kill  me." 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  September,  a 
storm  arose.  For  four  days  one  of  the  fiercest  of 
gales  ploughed  the  seas  of  those  high  northern  lati- 
tudes ;  for  the  squadron  was  then  in  the  parallel  of 
northern  Labrador.  In  the  second  night  of  the  gale 
the  Alliance  again  disappeared,  though  there  was 
nothing  to  prevent  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  from 
keeping  in  sight  of  each  other.  The  Vengeance  and 
the  Pallas  alone  remained  with  the  Richard. 

The  squadron  followed  down  the  eastern  coast 
of  Scotland  far  out  at  sea.  Their  first  sight  of  land 
revealed  the  summits  of  the  Cheviot  Hills,  far  away 
in  the  south.  This  was  in  the  evening  of  the  13th. 
The  next  day  they  gave  chase  to  several  vessels 
and  succeeded  in  capturing  a  large  ship  and  a  brig, 
both  laden  with  coal,  some  distance  off  the  frith  oi 
bay  of  Edinburgh. 

The  city  of  Leith  is  the  seaport  of  the  city  of 
Edinburgh,  which  stands  about  a  mile  back  from  the 
bay.  Leith  contained  a  population  of  about  twenty- 
five  thousand,  and  its  harbor  was  crowded  with  ship- 
ping. Captain  Jones  learned,  from  his  prizes,  that 
there  was  no  land  battery  to  defend  Leith,  and  that 
there  was,  in  the  harbor,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary 
shipping,  an  armed  vessel  of  twenty  guns,  and  three 


I20  PAUL  JONES. 

fine  cutters.  Captain  Jones,  always  cage*  for  heroic 
measures,  and  whose  courage,  extraordinary  as  it 
iv^as,  was  ever  tempered  by  discretion,  seeing  both 
Leith  and  Edinburgh  within  reach  of  his  blows  and 
reposing  in  indolence  and  supposed  security,  desired 
to  make  an  instantaneous  attack.  He  summoned 
Captain  Cottineau  of  the  Pallas  and  Captain  Cha- 
millard  of  the  Vengeance  to  meet  in  his  cabin.  As 
he  opened  his  bold  plan  to  them  they  were  appalled 
at  the  idea  of  attacking,  with  three  small  vessels, 
Leith,  and  consequently  Edinburgh,  which  would 
instantly  send  all  her  forces  to  the  rescue.  Captain 
Jones  eloquently  urged  upon  the  French  officers  the 
motives  which  influenced  his  own  mind. 

"  It  is,"  he  said,  "  a  matter  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance to  teach  the  enemy  humanity  by  some 
exemplary  stroke  of  retaliation.  And  there  is  no 
way  in  which  we  can  release  from  the  most  cruel 
captivity  the  American  prisoners  in  England,  but 
by  making  captives  of  some  persons  of  note.  The 
aristocratic  Government  of  Great  Britain  will  care 
but  little  for  the  fate  cf  their  poor  sailors  and  fish- 
ermen. 

"  Moreover,  the  Allies  are  soon  to  make  a  for- 
midable descent  on  the  south  side  of  England.  It 
will  greatly  help  their  operations  if  we  can  make  a 
diversion  here  in  the  north.     The  bold  measure  will 


CRUISE  OF  THE  BON  HOMME  RICHARJ>.       131 

alarm  them.  They  will  imagine  that  an  immense 
force  is  to  follow  into  the  Bay  of  Edinburgh.  This 
will  compel  them  to  hurry  their  armies  to  the  norths 
'eaving  the  south  unprotected. 

"  And  bold  as  the  measure  appears  to  be,  it  is  by 
no  means  quixotic.  There  is  every  reason  to  expect 
success.  We  know  just  what  resistance  we  have  to 
encounter.  We  have  ample  means  to  overcome  that 
resistance.  And  should  any  unforeseen  calamity 
thwart  our  plans,  we  can  promptly  put  to  sea,  and 
there  are  no  vessels  at  hand  which  will  dare  to 
pursue  us.** 

Thus  he  argued  all  the  night,  but  unavailingly. 
Objections  and  difficulties  were  presented  without 
number.  There  was  perhaps  never  more  unselfish 
patriotism  than  that  which  glowed  in  the  bosom  of 
Paul  Jones.  The  idea  of  his  own  personal  interest 
being  promoted  by  the  plunder  he  should  take> 
seemed  never  to  have  entered  his  mind.  It  would 
have  been  unreasonable  to  expect  that  such  purity 
of  motive  could  govern  the  French  officers.  They 
were  merely  the  allies  of  America,  and,  in  the  war, 
had  no  important  national  interests  at  stake.  Cap- 
tain Jones  then  appealed  to  another  motive. 

"  The  cities  of  Leith  and  Edinburgh  will  readily 
give  a  million  of  dollars  to  ransom  their  two  citic« 

from  the  flames." 

f 


^«2  PAUL  JONES. 

A   million    of  dollars !    two   hundred    thousand 

pounds.     This   thought  touched  and   melted  their 

hearts.     All  opposition  gave  way.     They  were  now 

ready  to  cooperate,  with  all  the  zeal  which  mercenxifir 

aicincts  could  inspire. 


CHAFTER  VI. 
Th£  Bon  HofHfne  Richard  and  the  Se^apti. 


Lcilh  Threatened. —The  Summons-~Remarkable  Prayer.— Widt 
spread  Alarm. — ^Continuation  of  the  Cruise. — Insubordination  of 
Landais.— Successive  Captures.— Terrible  Battle  between  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Serapis. — The  Great  Victory. 


Unfortunately  so  much  time  had  been  spent 
m  convincing  the  captains  of  the  Pallas  and  the 
Vengeance  of  the  feasibility  of  an  attack  upon  Leith, 
that  the  golden  hour  of  success  was  lost.  As  the 
little  fleet  of  three  vessels  was  sailing  up  the  wide 
Frith  of  Forth,  and  were  abreast  of  Inchkeith 
Island,  within  ten  or  twelve  miles  of  Leith,  and  which 
island  is  at  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  the  success 
of  the  enterprise  seemed  certain.  It  was  the  morn- 
ins  of  the  seventeenth.  In  an  hour  the  vessels 
woMld  have  been  within  cannon-shot  of  the  town. 
Everything  was  ready  for  the  descent.  Every  pre- 
paration was  made  for  the  landing  of  troops  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Chamillard.  The  summons  to 
the  chief  magistrate  was  written.  It  was  character- 
istic  of  the  humanity  and  energy  of  Captain  Jone?- 


124  PAUL  JJNES. 

"I  do  not  wish,"  he  wrote,  **to  distress  tht 
poor  inhabitants.  My  intention  is  only  to  demand 
your  contribution  toward  the  reimbursement  which 
Britain  owes  to  the  much  injured  citizens  of  Amer- 
ica. Savages  would  blush  at  the  unmanly  violation 
and  raoacity  that  have  marked  the  tracks  of  British 
tyranny  in  America,  from  which  neither  virgin  inno- 
cence nor  helpless  age  has  been  a  plea  of  protection 
or  pity. 

"  Leith  and  its  port  now  lay  at  our  mercy.  And 
did  not  the  plea  of  humanity  stay  the  just  hand  of 
retaliation,  I  should,  without  advertisement,  lay  it  in 
ashes.  Before  I  proceed  to  that  stern  duty  as  an 
officer,  my  duty  as  a  man  induces  me  to  propose  to 
you,  by  means  of  a  reasonable  ransom,  to  prevent 
such  a  scene  of  horror  and  distress.  For  this  reason 
I  have  authorized  Lieutenant-Colonel  de  Chamillard 
to  agree  with  you  on  the  terms  of  ransom,  allowing 
you  exactly  half  an  hour's  reflection  before  you  finally 
accept  or  reject  the  terms  which  he  shall  propose." 

The  alarm  had  reached  Leith,  and  was  running 
along  the  thronged  streets  of  Edinburgh.  All  was 
hurry  and  confusion.  Crowds  were  assembled  on 
fhe  beach,  and  were  rushing  to  all  the  commanding 
heights  in  the  neighborhood.  On  the  northern 
shore  of  the  bay  was  the  thriving  little  town  of 
Kirkaldy.    The  three  vessels  passed  within  a  xraie 


THE  RICHARD  AND  THE   SERAPIS.  1 25 

of  the  town.  It  was  the  morning  of  the  Sabbatli 
Nearly  all  of  the  little  community  were  at  church. 
Alarmed  by  the  near  approach  of  the  squadron^  they 
made  a  general  rush  to  the  beach,  accompanied  by 
their  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shivra.  He  was  a  man 
of  great  eccentricity,  and  particularly  remarkable  for 
the  familiarity  with  which  he  was  accustomed  to 
address  the  Deity.  Standing  upon  the  beach,  with 
uncovered  head  and  uplifted  hands,  and  surrounded 
by  his  reverent  flock,  it  is  said  that  he  offered,  in 
broad  Scotch,  the  following  extraordinary  prayer 
It  was  not  extraordinary  to  them,  or  irreverent,  for 
they  had  ever  been  accustomed  to  such  utterances. 

**  Now,  dear  Lord,  dinna  ye  think  it  a  shame  foi 
ye  to  send  this  vile  pirate  to  rob  our  folk  o*  Kirkaldy, 
Ye  ken  that  they  are  puir  enow  already,  and  hac 
naething  to  spare.  The  way  the  wind  blaws  he'll  be 
here  in  a  jiffy.  And  wha  kens  what  he  may  do? 
He's  nae  too  good  for  onything.  Mickle's  the  mis- 
chief he  has  dune  already.  He'll  burn  their  hooses, 
tak  their  very  claes,  and  strip  them  to  the  sark. 
And,  waes  m.e,  wha  kens  but  that  the  bluidy  villain 
might  tak  their  lives !  The  puir  weemen  are  most 
frightened  out  of  their  wits,  and  the  bairns  screech- 
hig  after  them  I  canna  think  of  it !  I  canna  think 
of  it! 

"  I   have   long  been  a  faithful  servant  to  ye,  O 


126  PAUL  JONES. 

Lord  But  gin  ye  dinna  turn  the  wind  about  and 
blaw  the  scoundrel  out  of  our  gate  1*11  nae  stir  a 
toot ;  but  will  just  sit  here  till  the  tide  comes.  Sac 
tak  your  will  o*t." 

Suddenly  a  violent  gale  arose,  blowing  out  from 
the  harbor.  The  people  of  K*»-kaldy  never  doubted 
that  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  powerful  interces- 
sion of  their  pastor.  "  I  prayed,"  said  the  good  old 
man  often  afterward,  "  but  the  Lord  sent  the  wind." 
The  gale  was  so  violent  that  it  was  impossible  to 
make  any  headway  against  it.  The  ship  which  he 
had  captured,  freighted  with  coal,  had  her  seams  so 
opened  by  the  tornado  that  she  sank  to  the  bottom. 
It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  crew  was 
rescued.  Though  Jones  was  almost  within  gun-shot 
of  Leith,  after  an  ineffectual  struggle  with  the 
gale  he  was  obliged  to  bear  away  and  run  out  of 
the  Frith. 

In  the  morning,  the  storm  abated  and  the 
weather  fair,  Captain  Jones  was  anxious  to  return 
immediately  to  the  attack.  But  the  other  captains 
were  unwilling  to  run  the  risk.  In  conference  they 
said  : 

The  alarm  of  our  approach  has  spread  through- 
out the  whole  country.  The  inhabitants  of  Leith 
have  had  several  hours  to  prepare  to  repel  us.  The 
city  o^  Edinburgh  will  certainly  have  sent  all  it? 


THE   RICHARD   AND   THE   SERAPIS.  12; 

military  force  into  Leith.  British  men-of-war  are  aJ\ 
along  the  coast.  They  will  be  immediately  informed 
of  our  presence.  Unless  we  disappear  we  shall  be 
overwhelmed  by  numbers.  We  dare  not  remair 
here.  If  Captain  Jones  decides  to  do  so,  we  musl 
leave  him." 

It  may  seem  very  strange  that  Captain  Jones, 
who  was  the  commodore  of  the  fleet,  should  not 
have  had  the  power  to  command  in  such  a  case. 
But  he  was  crippled,  and  his  energies  almost  para- 
lyzed, by  instructions,  which,  through  the  address 
of  Landais,  had  been  given  to  him  by  the  French 
Minister  of  Marine  the  evening  before  he  sailed. 

By  this  singular  document,  called  a  concordat, 
the  five  captains,  Jones,  Landais,  Cottineau,  Varage, 
and  Ricot,  were  bound  to  act  together.  This 
seemed  to  make  them  colleagues,  without  any  su- 
preme head.  This  unfortunate  order,  in  a  military 
point  of  view,  was  an  absurdity — as  absurd  as  to 
order  the  commander-in-chief  of  an  army  first  to 
obtain  the  approval  of  all  his  generals  before  order, 
ing  any  important  movement.  To  this  wretched 
concordat  Captain  Jones  justly  attributed  nearly 
all  his  troubles.  Landais,  from  the  beginning,  as- 
sumed that  he  was  the  colleague  of  Jone*. 

The  intrepid  Captain  Jones  could  only  argue  th« 
point  with  his  officers.     He  said  ; 


128  PAUL  JONES. 

"  We  know  that  there  are  no  batteries  to  oppose 
us.  There  is  no  naval  force  in  the  harbor  which  we 
cannot  instantly  silence.  The  wind  is  such  that  we 
can  run  in  and  out  of  the  harbor  at  our  pleasure. 
No  matter  how  many  thousand  men  stand  on  the 
shore  with  their  muskets,  they  cannot  harm  us. 
From  the  harbor  we  can  throw  our  broadsides  of 
shot  into  the  crowded  city,  and  in  a  short  time  lay 
it  in  ashes.  We  can  also  destroy  all  the  shipping. 
Rather  than  submit  to  this  terrible  loss,  they  will 
promptly  pay  the  ransom  we  demand.  Thus,  in  all 
probability,  we  have  only  to  sail  into  the  harbor, 
receive  the  ransom,  and  go  on  our  way." 

These  were  strong  arguments.  They  show  that 
Captain  Jones  was  not  a  reckless  desperado.  His 
plans  were  maturely  considered.  Those  of  his  en- 
terprises which  appeared  most  desperate  were  sane 
tioned  by  the  decisions  of  sound  judgment.  His 
arguments  were  unavailing ;  and  he  was  compelled 
to  yield.  In  his  official  account,  he  says,  in  mild 
language,  which  commands  our  respect  for  the  man : 

**  I  am  persuaded  even  now  that  I  should  have 
succeeded.  And  to  the  honor  of  my  young  officers, 
5  found  them  as  ardently  disposed  to  the  business  as 
X  could  desire.  Nothing  prevented  me  from  pursu- 
ing my  design,  but  the  reproach  that  would  have 
be^n  cast  upon  my  character,  as  a  man  of  prudence^ 


THE   RICHARD  AND   THE   SERAPIS.  I2Q 

had  the  enterprise  miscarried.  It  would  have  been 
said :  Was  he  not  warned  by  Captain  Cottineau,  and 
others  ?  " 

The  Alliance  having  disappeared,  there  wer<: 
now  but  two  vessels,  the  Pallas  and  the  Vengeance, 
accompanying  the  Richard.  This  little  fleet  con- 
tinued its  course  in  a  southerly  direction  along  the 
eastern  coast  of  Scotland.  On  the  19th,  three  ves- 
sels were  captured,  which  were  of  but  little  worth. 
The  next  day  three  more  were  taken.  One  of 
them,  Captain  Cottineau,  contrary  to  orders,  ran- 
somed. The  others  were  either  retained  or  sunk. 
On  the  2 1  St,  when  off  Flamborough  Head,  a  remark- 
ably  bold  English  promontory  jutting  out  from  the 
Yorkshire  coast,  two  vessels  appeared  in  sight,  one  in 
the  northeast,  and  the  other  in  the  southwest.  The 
Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Vengeance  pursued, 
the  one  in  the  southwest,  while  the  Pallas  was  sent 
in  chase  of  the  other.  Captain  Jones  overtook  the 
one  he  chased.  It  was  a  brig  in  ballast.  As  a  large 
fleet  was  then  discovered  between  Flamborough 
Head  and  Spurn  Head,  another  remarkable  pro- 
montory about  thirty  miles  farther  south,  Captain 
Jones  sunk  the  brig,  and  pressed  forward  in  pursuit 
of  the  fleet.  While  eagerly  engaged  in  the  chase, 
night  came  on.  He  had,  however,  got  so  near  one 
vessel  of  the  fleet  as  to  compel  her  to  run  ashore 
6* 


I^O  PAUL  JONES. 

As  the  twilight  faded  away  he  overtook  and  ca|> 
tured  a  brig.  The  night  was  long  and  dark.  Tnt 
affrighted  vessels  improved  every  moment  in  ran 
ning  into  such  harbors  as  could  be  reached. 

The  dawn  of  the  next  day  revealed  another  fleet 
rounding  the  point  of  Spurn  Head.  This  fleet  was 
convoyed  by  apparently  a  single  armed  ship.  The 
achievements  of  Captain  Jones's  little  fleet  had,  by 
this  time,  spread  alarm  everywhere.  As  soon  as 
the  fleet  caught  sight  of  the  Richard  and  the  Ven- 
geance, though  there  was  nothing  to  distinguish 
these  vessels  from  others  of  the  innumerable  ships 
which  were  ever  traversing  the  Channel,  suspicions 
were  aroused,  and  the  whole  fleet  turned  to,  and 
fled  back  into  the  river  H umber,  as  fast  as  theii 
wings  could  bear  them. 

Captain  Jones  ran  the  English  flag  to  the  mast- 
head of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  and  signalled  for 
a  pilot.  Soon  two  pilot-boats  came  off.  The  pilots 
supposed  the  Richard  to  be  an  English  man-of-war, 
They  were  consequently  unreserved  in  their  com- 
munications. They  informed  Captain  Jones  that 
the  fleet,  which  had  run  back  into  the  Humber,  was 
convoyed  only  by  an  armed  merchant-ship,  and  that 
a  king's  frigate  was  at  anchor  within  the  mouth  of 
the  river,  waiting  to  convoy  another  fleet  of  merchant- 
ships  to  the  north.     The  pilots  also  communicate^^ 


THE   RICHARD   AND   THE   SERAPIS.  13I 

to  him    the  private  signal   they  were  required   to 
make. 

With  this  signal  Captain  Jones  endeavored  tc 
decoy  the  frigate  out  of  the  harbor.  The  frigate 
spread  its  sails,  and  would  soon  have  been  within 
the  grasp  of  its  foes,  had  not  the  wind  changed  ; 
which,  with  a  strong,  unfavorable  tide,  compelled  the 
ship  to  return.  The  entrance  of  the  H umber  is  dif- 
ficult and  dangerous.  Captain  Jones  did  not  deem 
it  prudent,  with  only  one  assistant,  to  attempt  an 
attack  upon  the  shipping  there.  The  Pallas  was  not 
in  sight.  He  therefore  turned  his  course  north,  to 
meet  the  Pallas,  by  previous  agreement,  off  Flam- 
borough  Head. 

In  the  night,  Captain  Jones  saw  two  ships.  It 
was  bright  moonlight,  and  he  gave  them  chase. 
Thinking  it  possible  that  one  might  be  the  Pallas, 
he  made  the  private  signal  of  recognizance,  which 
had  been  communicated  to  each  captain  before  the 
fleet  sailed.  He  was  bewildered  by  having  one-half 
of  the  answer  only  returned  from  one  of  the  vessels. 
Thus  embarrassed,  he  lay  to  till  daylight,  when  the 
ships  proved  to  be  the  Pallas  and  the  Alliance,  It 
is  probable  that  the  Pallas  was  too  far  distant  to  dis- 
cern the  signal  by  moonlight ;  and  that  the  ambig- 
uous answer  returned  was  one  of  the  mad  pranks  of 
I^ndais. 


132  PAUL  JONES. 

On  the  morning  of  the  23d  they  gave  chase  to  a 
brig,  which  appeared  at  some  distance  to  the  wind- 
ward.  At  noon,  while  engaged  in  this  chase,  a  large 
Aiip  appeared  coming  round  the  Head.  Captain 
Jones  had  seized  both  of  the  swift-sailing  pilot-boats. 
One  of  them  he  armed  and  sent  in  pursuit  of  the 
brig.  Accompanied  by  the  Vengeance  he  sailed  in 
chase  of  the  ship.  The  ship  ran  for  protection  into 
BurUngton  Bay.  But  just  then  there  hove  in  sight, 
far  away  in  the  north  of  Flamborough  Head,  a  fleet 
of  forty-one  merchant-ships.  It  was  very  certain 
that  such  a  fleet  would  not  be  without  a  strong 
convoy. 

Captain  Jones  immediately  signalled  back  the 
pilot-boat,  and  also  hung  out  the  signal  for  a  general 
chase.  As  soon  as  the  fleet  discovered  the  squad- 
ron bearing  down  upon  them,  suspecting  that  it  was 
the  terrible  Captain  Jones,  the  merchant-ships,  like 
frightened  pigeons,  crowded  all  sail  toward  the 
shore.  There  were  then  six  vessels  composing  Cap- 
tain Jones's  squadron,  the  Richard,  the  Alliance,  the 
Vengeance,  the  Pallas,  and  the  two  pilot-boats. 

It  was  soon  found  that  there  were  two  ships-of- 
war  protecting  the  merchant  fleet.  These  two,  the 
Serapis  and  the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  two  of  the 
most  strongly  built  and  best  armed  of  English  fri- 
gates, came  steadily  forward,  preparing  for  battle. 


TOE   RICHARD  AND  THE   SERAPIS.  1 33 

Captain  Jones  made  signal  for  all  his  ships  to  form 
in  line  of  battle,  and  crowded  all  sail  to  reach  the 
enemy  as  soon  as  possible,  for  night  was  at  hand 
Captain  Landais  paid  no  attention  to  the  signal. 

It  was  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  when  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  and  the  Serapis  approached 
within  hailing  distance  of  each  other.  The  Alliance 
stood  sullenly  aloof  from  the  conflict.  The  Ven- 
geance, for  some  unexplained  reason,  remained  far  to 
the  windward,  and  did  not  come  into  action.  She 
had  been  commanded  to  assist  in  any  way  she 
could  in  the  battle,  or  in  taking  or  destroying  the 
merchant-ships.  The  Pallas,  under  Captain  Cotti- 
neau,  bore  down  bravely  upon  the  Countess  of  Scar- 
borough, and  after  the  bloody  conflict  of  an  hour  com- 
pelled the  white  cross  of  St.  George  to  bow  to  the 
Stars  and  the  Stripes  of  the  almost  nameless  repub- 
lic. Thus  the  Richard  was  left  alone  to  contend 
with  the  Serapis. 

The  Richard  had  forty  guns.  Six  of  these  were 
eighteen-pounders.  The  rest  were  twelve,  nine,  and 
six  pounders  Three  hundred  and  seventy-f.ve  men 
served  these  guns.  The  whole  weight  of  iron  balls 
she  could  throw  at  one  discharge  of  them  all,  was 
four  hundred  and  seventy-four  pounds. 

The  Serapis  carried  forty-one  gur  '.     Twenty  of 
these  v/ere   eighteen-pounders.     TL.'.re  were  three 


J  34  P^UL  JONES 

hundred  and  twenty-five  men  to  work  these  guns 
The  whole  weight  of  metal  the  Serapis  could  throw, 
at  one  discharge,  was  six  hundred  pounds. 

The  Serapis  was  one  of  the  finest  of  British  ff  K 
gates,  agile  and  very  obedient  to  her  helm,  fhe 
Richard  was  an  old  and  clumsy  merchantman,  very 
unwieldy,  and  poorly  fitted  for  warfare.  There  was 
a  gentle  breeze  which  swelled  the  sails,  and  an  almost 
un rippled  sea.  The  sun  had  been  set  for  more  than 
a  hour.  But  the  moon  rose  in  full  splendor,  and, 
shining  down  from  a  cloudless  sky,  shed  almost 
noonday  brilliance  over  the  scene.  The  vessels 
were  but  three  miles  from  the  rugged  cliffs  of  Flam- 
borough,  which  seems  but  a  short  distance  wdien 
looked  upon  over  the  water.  Those  cliffs  were 
blackened  with  the  multitudes  who  had  hurried  to 
witness  the  strange,  sublime,  and  yet  awful  spectacle. 
The  coast  line  and  the  piers  of  Scaiborough  seemed 
also  to  be  crowded  with  spectators. 

The  breeze  was  so  light  that  the  vessels  had  ap- 
proached each  other  very  slowly.  When  within 
pistol-shot,  and  abreast,  with  bow  to  bow,  the 
Serapis  hailed  the  Richard  with  the  question : 

"  What  ship  is  that  ?  " 

The  answer  came  back,  *'  What  is  it  you  say  ?  *' 

Again  the  shout  came  from  the  Serapis,  "  What 


THE  RICHARD  AND  THE  SERAPIS,  135 

ship  is  that  ?  Answer  immediately,  or  ^  shall  fire 
into  you." 

Simultaneously  both  vessels  opened  their  broad- 
sides. The  flash  glared  upon  the  spectators  like 
lightning  from  the  cloud.  Then  came  the  thunder 
peal.  The  storm  of  human  passion,  more  dreadful 
than  any  stoim  which  ever  wrecked  the  skies,  had 
begun.  The  iron  hail  tore  through  both  of  the  ships, 
crashing  the  timbers,  scattering  death-dealing  splin- 
ters in  all  directions,  and  strewing  the  decks  with 
the  mangled  bodies  of  the  dying  and  the  dead.  At 
this  first  discharge  two  of  the  eighteen-pounders  of 
the  Richard  burst,  killing  almost  every  man  who 
served  them,  and  so  blowing  up  the  deck  and  creat- 
ing such  havoc  as  to  render  the  remaining  four  use- 
less. 

Thus  Captain  Jones*s  battery  of  six  eighteen- 
pounders  was  rendered  entirely  useless,  while  his 
adversary  had  twenty  eighteen-pounders  to  hurl 
destruction  upon  the  Richard.  The  battle  was  con- 
tinued with  unremitting  fury.  Broadside  follov/ed 
broadside  in  such  swift  succession  that  there  was  a 
continuous  flash  and  a  continuous  roar. 

It  was  a  wondrous  spectacle  presented  to  the 
spectators  on  land.  Both  ships  were  enveloped  in 
such  a  cloud  of  smoke  as  to  be  quite  invisible.  It 
jeemed  as  though  a  thunder-cloud,  fraught  with  the 


IS6  PAUL  JONES. 

most  dreadful  tempests,  had  descended  upon  ths 
ocean,  and  that  a  supernatural  strife  was  raging 
there  between  unseen  spirit?  of  f^2rVr>esr  H'ho  hurled 
bolts  at  each  other  which  illumined  the  ocean  anc 
shook  the  hills.  All  who  witnessed  the  terrific 
scene  were  overwhelmed  with  emotions  of  awe 
and  dread.  This  is  indeed  a  fallen  world.  Through 
all  the  ages,  on  the  ocean  and  on  the  land,  man  has 
been  combining  all  the  energies  he  could  wield  for 
the  destruction  of  his  brother  man. 

Very  slowly  this  war  cloud  moved  along,  the  man- 
oeuvres of  both  vessels  being  entirely  concealed  from 
those  on  the  shore.  Each  was  constantly  endeavor- 
ing to  cross  each  other's  track,  that  thus  the  ship  of 
its  opponent  might  be  raked  by  a  broadside  which 
would  sweep  from  the  bows  to  the  stern.  But  sev- 
eral of  the  braces  of  the  Richard  were  shot  away  ; 
she  would  not  readily  mind  the  helm,  and  the  bow- 
sprit of  the  Serapis  was  thrust  across  the  stern  of 
the  Richard,  near  the  mizzen-mast. 

Captain  Jones  grasped  the  bowsprit  with  his 
grappling  irons,  and  made  the  ships  fast.  The  stern 
of  the  Serapis  swung  round  to  the  bcws  cf  the  Ri- 
chard.  Thus  the  ships  were  brought  square  alongside 
of  each  other.  Their  yards  were  all  entangled  The 
niuzzles  of  their  guns  often  touched.  In  the  mean- 
time the  gunners  were  pouring  into  each  other  thei; 


THE  RICHARD  AND   THE   SERAPIS.  1 3; 

awful  broadsides,  creating  destruction  which  was  truly 
appalling.  Several  eighteen-pound  shots  had  pierced 
the  Richard  at  the  water's  edge,  and  the  water  was 
rushing  in  torrents  through  the  openings. 

A  party  of  twenty  soldiers  had  been  placed  upon 
the  quarter-deck  of  the  Richard,  to  pick  off  the  gun- 
ners of  the  enemy,  with  their  muskets.  But  they 
were  assailed  by  such  a  murderous  storm  of  grape- 
shot,  that  torn  and  bleeding,  and  leaving  many  dead 
upon  the  deck,  they  ran  below.  Men  were  stationed 
high  up  in  the  rigging  of  both  the  ships,  who  kept 
up  an  incessant  fire  upon  all  exposed  persons. 

The  two  vessels,  sometimes  touching  each  other 
and  again  separated  by  but  a  few  feet,  moved  slowly 
along,  side  by  side,  dealing  such  terrific  blows  as  to 
cause  each  to  stagger.  They  often  crossed  each 
other's  track,  now  passing  the  bow  and  again  the 
stern.  Captain  Jones's  battery  of  twolve-pounders, 
upon  which  he  had  placed  his  main  reliance,  was 
soon  entirely  silenced.  As  in  this  terrible  struggle 
broadside  answered  broadside,  Captain  Jones  saw 
that  the  superiority  of  his  enemy  in  weight  of  metaj 
would  inevitably  give  him  the  victory,  if  that  mode 
of  warfare  were  continued ;  especially  as  his  own 
vessel  was  old  and  easil)r  torn  to  pieces  by  the  foe- 
man's  shot,  while  the  Serapis  was  new,  with  solicJ 


IjS  PAUL  JONES. 

timbers  almost  like  ribs  of  steel.  He  resolved  tc 
board  the  foe. 

In  attempting  this  his  vessel  became  entangled 
with  the  jib-boom  of  the  Serapis  and  tore  it  away. 
The  grappling  irons  were  again  thrown  out,  and  the 
two  ships  again  swung  together,  broadside  to  broad- 
side, so  that  the  muzzles  of  their  guns  not  unfre- 
quently  touched,  and  the  gunners,  in  ramming  down 
the  charges,  often  ran  their  ramrods  into  the  port- 
holes of  their  adversary.  With  his  own  hand  Cap- 
tain Jones  aided  in  tying  the  lashings,  that  the  ves- 
sels might  not  again  be  separated.  Still  there  wai 
not  a  moment's  cessation  of  the  cannonading.  The 
timbers  were  torn  and  rent.  Huge  gaps  were  opened 
in  the  sides  of  each  ship.  The  cloud  of  smoke 
which  enveloped  them  was  so  dense  that  the  com- 
batants, in  almost  midnight  darkness,  fought  mainly 
by  the  flash  of  their  guns. 

A  hundred  men  made  a  rush  over  the  gunwales 
into  the  Serapis  with  gleaming  swords,  exploding 
pistols,  and  the  loudest  outcries  which  frenzy  could 
extort.  In  such  hours  of  blood  and  terror,  shrieks 
aid  to  embolden  the  heart  and  nerve  the  arm. 
They  were  met  by  an  equal  number  of  the  foe,  with 
pike,  sabre,  pistol,  and  corresponding  yells.  What 
imagination  can  conceive  the  scene  ?  In  midnight 
darkness,  illumined  only  by  war's  portentous  flashe? 


THE  RICHARD  AND  THE  SERAPISv.  I39 

enveloped  in  sulphurous  smoke,  with  the  crash  as 
of  ten  thousand  thunders  deafening  the  ear,  more 
than  seven  hundred  men,  crowded  together  in  closest 
contact,  and  wielding  the  most  powerful  weapons 
modern  art  could  construct  were  butchering  each 
other.  Limb  was  torn  from  limb.  Dead  bodies 
strewed  the  decks,  which  were  slippery  with  blood. 
Shrieks  and  groans  and  prayers  and  oaths  were 
blended  with  the  horrid  clamor.  Can  hell  itself 
present  a  scene  more  infernal  than  this. 

And  who  shall  answer  for  this  at  God's  bar?  II 
Abraham  was  right  in  arming  three  hundred  and 
eighteen  men  to  pursue  the  savages  for  the  rescue 
of  his  nephew  Lot,  and  his  family,  and  if  he  could 
look  for  God's  blessing  upon  the  enterprise,  as  he 
certainly  could,  then  were  these  colonies  justified  in 
resisting,  even  to  this  direful  extremity,  the  attempts 
of  haughty  England  to  enslave  our  land.  The  bur 
glar  who  breaks  into  the  peaceful  dwelling  at  mid- 
night, to  rob  and  murder,  may  be  justly  resisted  with 
every  weapon  which  frenzy  can  grasp.  The  British 
government  must  answer  at  the  Judgment  Seat,  for 
these  scenes  of  blood  and  woe.  Truly  did  Captain 
Jones  write  to  Lady  Selkirk. 

"  Humanity  starts  back  from  such  scenes  of 
horror,  and  cannot  sufficiently  execrate  the  vile  pro- 
moters of  the  detestable  war. 


I40  PAUL  JONES. 

"  For  thty;  'twas  they  unshc^ilhed  the  ruthless  blftdt. 
And  Heaven  shall  ask  the  havoc  it  has  made." 

The  boarders  were  driven  back.  Leaving  manj 
dead  upon  the  deck  of  the  Serapis,  they  were  forced, 
pell-mell,  over  the  gunwales,  with  many  a  gory 
wound,  to  the  blood-stained  decks  of  the  Richard. 
As  they  fled,  the  two  captains,  each  on  his  quarter- 
deck, stood  within  a  few  feet  of  each  other.  In  the 
darkness  the  flags  could  not  be  seen.  Captain 
Pearson,  of  the  Serapis,  shouted  out : 

"  Have  you  struck  your  flag  ?  " 

**  No,"  responded  Captain  Jones,  "  I  have  not 
yet  begun  to  fight."  With  his  own  hands  the  intre- 
pid captain  worked,  serving  the  guns.  Though 
blackened  with  powder  and  smoke,  and  painfully 
wounded  by  a  splinter,  he  was  calm  and  unagitated, 
watching  every  movement,  but  with  a  firm  expression 
on  his  almost  feminine  features  which  indicated  that 
he  would  never,  never  yield.  He  endeavored  to 
compensate  for  the  superiority  of  the  guns  of  his  foe 
by  the  rapidity  of  his  own  fire.  His  guns  thus 
became  greatly  heated,  and  in  their  terrible  rebound 
threatened  to  break  from  their  fastenings.  At  eveiy 
discharge  his  ship  trembled  from  stem  to  stern.  In 
Captain  Jones's  extremely  modest  official  account,  in 
which  not  one  ^  ?rd  is  said  in  praise  of  himself,  hf 
writes : 


THE   RICILiRD  AND  THE  3ERAPIS.  I4I 

"  I  directed  the  fire  of  one  of  the  three  cannon 
against   the   main-mast   with   double-headed   shot, 
while  the  other  two  were  exceedingly  well  served 
jyith  grape  and  canister  shot  to  silence  the  enemy's 
musketry,  and  clear  her  decks,  which  was  at  last 
etfected.     The  enemy  were,  as  I  have  since  under 
stood,  on  the  instant  for  calling  for  quarter,  when 
the  cowardice  or  treachery  of  three    of  my  under 
officers  induced  them  to  call  to   the   enemy.     The 
English  commodore  asked  me  if  I  demanded  quar- 
ter, and,  I  having  answered  him  in  the  most  deter- 
mined negative,  they  renewed  the  battle  with  double 
fury.     They  were  unable  to  stand  the  deck,  but  the 
fire  of  their  cannon,   especially  the  lower   battery, 
which  was    entirely   formed    of  eighteen-pounders, 
was  incessant.     Both  ships  were  set  on  fire  in  vari- 
ous places,  and  the  scene  was  dreadful  beyond  the 
reach  of  language.     To  account  for  the  timidity  of 
my   three   under  officers  (I   mean  the  gunner,  the 
carpenter,  and  the  master-at-arms),  I  must  observe 
that  the  two  first  were  slightly  wounded,  and  as  the 
ship  had  received  various  shots  under  water,   and 
one  of  the  pumps  being  shot  away,  the  carpenter 
expressed  his  fear  that   she  would   sink,   and   the 
ether  two  concluded  that  she  was  sinking,  which 
cjccasioned  the  gunner  to  run  aft  on  the  poop,  with- 
out my  knowledge,  to  strike  the  colors  ;  fortunately 


i42  PAUL  JONES, 

for  me,  a  cannon-ball  had  done  that   before,  by  car 
rying    away    the   ensign   staff;   he   was,   therefore, 
reduced   to   the   necessity   of  sinking — as   he   sup< 
posed — or  of  calling  for  quarter,  and  he  preferred 
the  latter." 

There  were  six  feet  of  water  in  the  hold.  The 
flood,  in  streams,  was  rushing  in.  The  ship  was 
apparently  sinking.  At  that  awful  moment  one  of 
the  officers  rushed  below  and,  with  humane  inten- 
tions, released  three  hundred  prisoners  who  were  in 
the  hold.  They  came  pouring  upon  deck  in  a 
frenzy  of  dismay.  Water  would  drown  them  in  the 
hold.  Bullets  and  cannon-balls  would  strike  them 
on  the  deck.  The  Richard  was  on  fire  in  several 
places.  The  rudder  was  cut  off  the  stern-frame,  and 
the  transoms  shot  away.  Fire  had  broken  out  in 
several  places.  It  was  burning  within  a  few  inches 
of  the  powder  magazine.  The  timbers  on  the  ship's 
side,  from  the  main-mast  to  the  stern,  were  entirely 
shot  away,  so  that  the  balls  of  the  Serapis  passed 
directly  through,  meeting  with  no  obstruction  but 
the  bodies  of  men.  A  few  blackened  posts  alonr 
prevented  the  upper  deck  from  falling. 

The  flames  were  so  near  the  magazine  that  Cap- 
tain Jones  ordered  the  powder  kegs  to  be  brought 
up  and  thrown  Into  the  sea.     He  compelled  the  pri 
toners  to  work  at  the  pumps,  and  in  the  endeavor  ts- 


THE   RICHARD  AND   THE  SERAPIS.  I43 

extinguish  the  flames.  They  were  indeed  ready 
enough  to  do  this  ;  for  the  sinking  of  the  ship  would 
drown  them,  and  they  were  in  imminent  peril  of 
being  burned  up  by  the  conflagration. 

In  the  midst  of  this  awful  confusion,  after  the 
battle  had  raged  for  two  and  a  half  hours,  Captain 
Pearson  thought  he  heard  the  cry  of  some  one  on 
board  the  Richard  calling  for  quarter.  This  cry 
probably  came  from  the  quartermaster. 

"  Hearing  this,"  Captain  Pearson  writes,  "  I 
called  upon  the  captain,  to  know  if  he  had  struck. 
No  answer  being  made,  after  repeating  my  words  to 
or  three  times,  I  called  for  the  boarders  and  ordered 
them  to  board  ;  which  they  did.  But  the  moment 
they  were  on  board  the  Richard,  they  discovered  a 
superior  number,  lying  under  cover,  with  pikes  in 
their  hands  ready  to  receive  them  ;  on  which  our 
people  retreated  instantly  to  their  guns  again,  till 
after  ten  o'clock." 

The  powder-boys  of  the  Serapis,  whose  business 
it  was  to  bring  up  the  cartridges  for  the  guns,  ap- 
palled by  the  horrible  scene,  of  dismounted  guns, 
mutilation,  and  death,  scarcely  knowing  what  they 
did,  threw  the  cartridges  upon  the  deck,  and  went 
back  for  more.  The  cartridges  were  trampled  upon 
and  broken.  The  deck  was  soon  quite  covered  witij 
cartridges   and    loose    powder.     A    hand   grenade 


14^  PAUL  JONES. 

thrown  from  the  Richard,  ^et  fire  to  this,  and  prc*- 
diiced  an  awful  explosion. 

The  effect  was  horrible.  More  than  twenty  were: 
instantly  blown  to  pieces.  Many  others  had  every 
particle  of  clothing  blown  from  their  bodies,  and 
were  thrown  down,  writhing  in  agony,  blackened,  and 
scorched  almost  to  cinders,  Captain  Pearson,  in  his 
official  report  says  : 

"  A  hand  grenade,  being  thrown  in  at  one  of  the 
lower  ports  a  cartridge  of  powder  was  set  on  fire  , 
the  flames  of  which,  running  from  cartridge  to  car- 
tridge all  the  way  aft,  blew  up  the  whole  of  the  peo- 
ple and  officers  that  were  quartered  abaft  the  main- 
mast ;  from  which  unfortunate  circumstances,  all 
those  guns  were  rendered  useless  for  the  remainder 
of  the  action,  and  I  fear  that  the  greater  part  of  the 
people  will  lose  their  lives." 

Just  before  ten  oclock  the  Alliance,  which  had 
stood  aloof  during  all  these  hours,  made  her  appear- 
ance. I  must  give  this  extraordinary  occurrence  in 
the  words  of  Captain  Jones. 

"  I  now  thought,"  he  wrote,  **  that  the  battle  was 
at  an  end.  But  to  my  utter  astonishment  he  dis- 
charged a  broadside  full  into  the  stern  of  ♦•Jie  Bon 
Homme  Richard.  We  called  to  him  for  God's  sake 
to  forbear.  Yet  he  passed  along  the  off  side  of  the 
?hip,  and  continued   firing.     There  was  no   poss«^*' 


THE   RICHARD  AND  THE  SERAPIS.  145 

fty  of  his  mistaking  the  enemy's  ship  for  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard,  there  being  the  most  essential  dif- 
ference in  their  appearance  and  construction.  Be- 
sides it  was  then  full  moonlight,  and  the  sides  of  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard  were  all  black,  and  the  sides  of 
the  enemy's  ship  were  yellow.  Yet  for  the  greater 
security  I  showed  the  signal  for  our  reconnoisance,  by 
putting  out  three  lanterns,  one  at  the  bow,  one  at 
the  stern,  and  one  at  the  middle,  in  a  horizontal 
line. 

**  Every  tongue  cried  that  he  was  firing  into  the 
wrong  ship,  but  nothing  availed.  He  passed  round 
firing  into  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  head,  stern,  and 
broadside,  and  by  one  of  his  volleys  killed  several 
of  my  best  men,  and  mortally  wounded  a  good 
officer  of  the  forecastle.  My  situation  was  truly 
deplorable.  The  Bon  Homme  Richard  received 
several  shots  under  the  water  from  the  Alliance. 
The  leak  gained  on  the  pumps ;  and  the  fire  increased 
much  on  board  both  ships.  Some  officers  entreated 
me  to  strike,  of  whose  courage  and  sense  I  entertain 
a  high  opinion.  I  would  not,  however,  give  up  the 
point." 

The  fire  from  the  tops  of  the  Richard  had  struck 
down  every  man  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Serapis. 
Captain  Jones's  guns  had  so  cut  the  main-mast  of 
the  foe  that  it  reeled  and  fell  with  a  fearful  crasb 

7 


Ijfi  PAUL  JONES. 

tearing  down  with  it  spars  and  rigging,  and  leaving 
the  ship  almost  a  helpless  wreck.  Flames  wers 
bursting  forth  in  several  places.  Captain  PearsoE 
saw  that  all  was  lost.  With  his  own  hands  he  stnicl 
his  flag. 

Lieutenant  Richard  Dale  immediately,  with  thf. 
consent  of  Captain  Jones,  jumped  upon  the  gunwale, 
seized  the  main-brace  pendant,  and  swung  himself 
upon  the  quarter-deck  of  the  captured  ship.  He 
was  followed  by  Midshipman  Mayrant,  with  a  large 
party  of  sailors.  The  confusion  was  so  great  that  it 
was  not  known,  at  that  moment,  throughout  eithei 
ship,  that  the  Serapis  had  surrendered.  One  of  the 
enemy,  stationed  at  the  waist,  ran  his  boarding-pike 
through  the  thigh  of  the  midshipman. 

Lieutenant  Dale  found  Captain  Pearson  standing 
aside,  the  image  of  despair,  on  the  leeward  of  the 
quarter-deck.  Addressing  the  unfortunate  captain 
respectfully,  he  said : 

"  Sir,  I  have  orders  to  send  you  on  board  the 
ship  alongside." 

The  first  lieutenant  of  the  Serapib,  coming  up  at 
this  moment,  inquired : 

"  Has  the  enemy  struck  her  flag?'* 

"No,  sir,"  Lieutenant  Dale  replied..  "  Oa  th^ 
contrary,  you  have  struck  to  us." 


THE   RICHARD  AND   THE   SERAPIS,  147 

The  lieutenant  of  the  Serapis,  turning  anxiously 
to  Captain  Pearson,  inquired: 

*'  Have  you  struck,  sir." 

**  Yes,  I  have  I  "  was  the  sad,  laconic  reply. 

All  this  occupied  scarcely  one  minute.  It  was 
..ear  midnight.  Darkness  and  suffocating  smoke 
enveloped  the  combatants.  Random  firing  had 
not  yet  ceased,  though  on  both  ships  nearly  all  the 
cannon  had  been  dismounted. 

The  lieutenant  of  the  Serapis  replied,  '*  I  have 
nothing  more  to  say."  He  turned  about  and  was 
going  below  when  Lieutenant  Dale  courteously 
arrested  him  saying,  "  It  is  my  duty  to  request  you 
sir,  to  accompany  Captain  Pearson  on  board  the 
ship  alongside." 

*'  If  you  will  first  permit  me,"  the  lieutenant  re- 
plied, "to  go  below,  I  will  silence  the  firing  of  the 
lower  deck  guns." 

**This  cannot  be  permitted,"  was  the  reply. 
The  two  distinguished  captives  passed  over  to  the 
deck  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.  Orders  were 
sent  below  to  cease  firing.  Thus  terminated  this 
most  memorable  of  naval  conflicts,  after  a  bloody 
battle  with  muzzle  to  muzzle,  of  nearly  three  hours 
and  a  half.  Through  all  time,  in  all  naval  chronicles 
the  battle  between  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  and 
the  Serapis  will  occupy  a  conspicuous  position. 


CHAPTER  Vn. 
Result  of  tJie   Victory, 

t^teadful  Spectacle. — Sinking  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard. — Escapf 
of  the  Baltic  Fleet. — Sails  for  the  Texel, — Interesting  Correspor. 
dence. — Sufferings  of  the  American  Prisoners. — Barbarity  of  tl| 
English  Government. — Humanity  of  Captain  Jones. — The  Tran« 
ference  from  the  Serapis  to  the  Alliance. — Extracts  from  tli 
British  Press. — Release  of  Prisoneis. 

After  the  excitement  of  the  conflict  was  over. 
Captain  Jones  was  shocked  at  the  spectacle  of  de- 
vastation and  misery  which  was  presented  to  him. 
All  sense  of  triumph  was  lost  in  emotions  of  com- 
passion and  sadness.  In  his  official  journal  he 
wrote : 

"A  person  must  have  been  an  eye-witness  to 
form  a  just  idea  of  the  tremendous  scene  of  carnage, 
wreck,  and  ruin  that  everywhere  appeared.  Hu- 
manity cannot  but  recoil  from  the  prospect  of  such 
finished  horror,  and  lament  that  war  should  pro- 
duce such  fatal  consequences." 

The  carpenters  were  immediately  employed  in 
examining  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  to  see  if  bei 


RESULT   OF  THE   VICTORY.  I40 

wounds  were  capable  of  being  healed.  The  lashings 
were  cut  which  bound  her  to  the  Serapis,  and  all  the 
available  hands  were  employed,  at  the  pumps,  to 
keep  her  afloat.  Captain  Jones  took  possession  of 
his  shattered  prize,  the  Serapis,  to  which  he  trans- 
fened  all  the  crew,  excepting  those  which  attended 
the  pumps.  Boats  were  in  waiting,  ready  to  take 
them  on  board  the  Serapis  should  the  water  gain 
upon  them  too  fast.  The  surv^eying  officers  soon 
reported  unanimously,  that  the  ship  could  not  be 
kept  afloat  long  enough  to  reach  port.  It  took  all 
the  night,  and  some  hour's  the  next  morning  hastily 
but  carefully  to  remove  the  wounded. 

Captain  Jones  was  very  anxious  to  save  the  ship 
and  made  every  possible  effort  until  nine  o'clock  the 
next  evening.  The  water  was  then  up  to  her  lower 
deck.  She  rolled  in  the  waves  in  utter  helpless- 
ness, tlireatening  every  moment  to  go  down.  The 
water  was  gushing  from  her  port-holes  and  swash- 
ing through  her  hatchways.  It  was  necessary  at 
once  to  abandon  her.  From  the  deck  of  the  Serapis 
Captain  Jones  sadly  watched  the  dying  convulsions 
of  his  "  good  old  ship."     He  wrote : 

"  We  did  not  abandon  her  till  after  nine  o'clock. 
A  little  after  ten,  I  saw,  with  inexpressible  grief,  the 
last  glimpse  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.  No  lives 
were  lost  with  the  ship ;  but  it  was  impossible  to 


IfO  PAUL  JONES, 

save  the  stores  of  any  sort  whatever.  I  lost  the 
best  part  of  my  clothes,  books,  and  papers.  Several 
of  my  ofncers  lost  all  their  clothes  and  effects.'* 

Mak'ng  one  or  two  dying  surges,  the  Richaid 
plugged  headlong  into  the  fathomless  abyss,  carrying 
her  dead  with  her  to  their  sublime  ocean  burial, 
There  the  mangled  bodies  will  repose  till,  at  the 
summons  of  the  archangel's  trump,  the  sea  shall 
give  up  the  dead  that  are  in  it.  According  to  the 
most  accurate  estimate  which  can  be  made,  forty- 
two  were  killed,  and  forty  severely  wounded.  Light 
wounds  were  not  counted.  There  was  no  accurate 
account  taken  of  the  killed  and  wounded  on  board 
the  Serapis.  The  surgeon's  report  to  the  British 
Admiralty,  gives  the  number  of  wounded  at  sev- 
enty-five, but  does  not  give  the  number  killed.  Cap- 
tain  Pearson  states  that  there  were  many  more 
wounded  than  appears  on  the  surgeon's  list.  Cap- 
tain Jones,  who  had  the  best  opportunity  for  know- 
ing, and  who  was  not  given  to  exaggeration,  esti- 
mates the  killed  at  one  hundred,  and  the  wounded 
at  about  the  same  number. 

Captain  Landais,  of  the  Alliance,  was  court-mar- 
tialed for  his  atrocious  conduct.  There  can  be  no 
reasonable  doubt,  from  the  evidence  given  on  his 
trial,  that  he  hoped  the  Serapis  would  conquer  and 
capture  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.     During  the  con- 


itESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  151 

Rict  he  kept  entirely  out  of  harm's  way,  so  that  not  t, 
shot  struck  him.  After  the  Richard  had  surrendered 
Captain  Landais  intended  to  come  forward,  attack 
thr  Scrapis  exhausted  and  shattered  by  its  previous 
confl'ct,  and  with  her  guns  dismounted  and  encum- 
bered by  the  wounded  and  the  dead,  and  thus  make 
an  easy  conquest  of  the  British  ship  and  rescue  her 
prize  He  could  thus  retire  with  glory ^  dragging  the 
Serapfs  and  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  in  his  train. 
Finding  it  a  little  doubtful  whether  the  Richard 
would  yield,  he  concluded  to  help  the  Serapis. 
Thret  of  his  officers  declared  that  Landias  said  to 
them  : 

"  ]  should  have  thought  it  no  harm  if  the  Bon 
Homiv,^  Richard  had  struck  her  flag.  That  would 
h^^e  driven  me  an  opportunity  to  take  the  Serapis 
and  tc  retake  her.*' 

I  n.  ^ist  now  leave  Landais,  for  the  present,  though 
I  ^all  have  occasion  to  refer  to  him  again.  The 
Baltic  deet  escaped.  The  fact  is  easily  explained 
from  the  loss  of  the  Richard,  the  crippled  state  of 
the  Serapis,  with  both  main-mast  and  mizzen-mast 
dra^ginr^  at  her  sides,  and  the  treacherous  conduct 
of  Landais.  Jury-masts  were  erected  upon  the 
Serapis,  «nd  for  ten  days  the  shattered  ship  was 
tossed  on  the  stormy  waves  of  the  North  Sea.  Cap- 
tain Jones  was  striving  to  reach  Dunkirk,  the  mosi 


I $2  PAUL  JONES. 

nt^rtherly  and  consequently  the  nearest  seaport  in 
France. 

In  the  extreme  northwest  of  Holland  there  is  a 
somewhat  renowned  island  called  the  Texel.  It  is 
about  thirteen  miles  long  and  six  broad,  and  is  situ- 
ated near  the  mouth  of  the  Zuyder  Zee,  or  South 
Sea,  as  that  portion  of  the  German  Ocean  is  called. 
It  is  nearly  two  hundred  miles  north  of  the  most 
northerly  frontier  of  France.  Contrary  winds,  and 
the  extremely  suffering  state  of  the  prisoners  and  his 
wounded,  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  run  into 
that  neutral  port. 

Captain  Jones  never  made  any  complaint  respect- 
ing his  own  hardships.  But  while  upon  this  event- 
ful campaign  his  toils,  responsibilities,  and  anxieties 
had  been  such  that  during  the  whole  time  he  had 
never  indulged  in  more  than  three  hours'  sleep 
in  the  twenty-four.  The  news  of  the  capture  of 
the  Serapis  spread  rapidly  through  Europe  and 
America.  The  haughty  attitude  England  had  ever 
assumed  had  rendered  her  unpopular  with  all  other 
nations.  Consequently  there  was  a  general  rejoicing 
over  the  great  victory  of  Captain  Jones.  It  was 
something  new  for  England  to  lose  one  of  her  finest 
fi 'gates  in  a  fairly  fought  battle  with  an  inferior  force. 

It  is  said  that  this  terrible  battle  between  the 
Ton  Homme    Richard   and   the  Serapis  was   mof 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  1 55 

noised  abroad  over  the  world  than  any  naval  con- 
flict ever  engaged  in,  in  ancient  or  modern  tin»es. 
It  was  a  marvel  to  all  Europe  to  see  an  English  ship 
of  war,  hitherto  generally  supposed  to  be  invincible, 
strike  to  a  frigate  of  the  feeble  colonies  of  America, 
which  had,  as  yet,  scarcely  a  national  name  and  whose 
flag  was  unknown.  The  superiority  of  the  British 
ship,  both  in  build  and  in  armament,  the  treacherous 
conduct  of  Landais,  and  the  desperate  resistance  of 
both  parties,  apparently  to  the  last  possible  degree, 
excited  astonishment  and  admiration  both  in  the 
Old  World  and  the  New.  Captain  Jones  was  the  hero 
of  the  day.  His  name  was  upon  all  lips.  The  en- 
thusiasm in  Paris  was  almost  boundless.  Dr.  Frank- 
lin wrote  to  him  under  date  of  October  15th,  1779: 

"  For  some  days  after  the  arrival  of  your  express, 
scarce  anything  was  talked  of  at  Paris  or  Versailles 
but  your  cool  conduct  and  persevering  bravery  dur- 
ing that  terrible  conflict.  You  may  believe  that  the 
impression  on  my  mind  was  not  less  strong  than  on 
that  of  others,  but  I  do  not  choose  to  say,  in  a  let- 
ter to  yourself,  all  I  think  on  such  an  occasion." 

He  informed  Captain  Jones  that  he  had  written 
to  Landais,  informing  him  that  he  would  have  an 
opportunity,  before  a  court-martial,  to  answer  the 
charges  of  disobedience  of  orders  and  neglect  of  duty 
vhich  had  been  brought    against  him.     As    it   W2s- 

1* 


154  PAUL  JONES. 

impracticable  immediately  to  organize  a  court-mai. 
tial,  he  was  for  the  time  relieved  from  the  command 
of  the  Alliance.     He  added  : 

"  I  know  not  whether  Captain  Landais  will  obey 
my  orders,  nor  what  the  ministry  will  do  with  him  if 
he  comes.  But  I  suspect  that  they  may,  by  some  of 
their  concise  operations,  save  the  trouble  of  a  court- 
martial." 

It  subsequently  appeared  that  Landais  had  pre- 
viously been  dismissed  from  the  French  service  for 
insubordination.  This  fact  was  not  known  to  Con- 
gress when  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Alliance.  They  simply  knew  that  he  was  a  French- 
man of  illustrious  family,  of  great  pretensions,  and 
who  had  been  an  officer  in  the  French  navy.  Con- 
gress inconsiderately,  in  its  anxiety  to  compliment 
France,  placed  him  in  a  position  which  his  eccentric 
passions  totally  disqualified  him  from  filling. 

Landais  wrote  to  Dr.  Franklin  soliciting  another 
command.  In  a  very  characteristic  reply,  dated 
March  I2th,  1780,  Dr.  Franklin  wrote: 

"  No  one  has  ever  learned  the  opinion  I  formed 
of  you,  from  the  inquiry  made  into  your  conduct.  I 
kept  it  entirely  to  myself,  I  have  not  even  hinted  it 
in  my  letters  to  America,  because  I  would  not  hazard 
^ving  any  one  a  bias  to  your  prejudice. 

"  By  communicating  a  part  of  that  opinion  pri 


REbULT  OF   THE  VICTORY.  155 

^tely  to  you  I  can  do  no  harm,  for  you  may  burn  it 
I  should  not  give  you  the  pain  of  reading  it,  if  your 
demand  did  not  make  it  necessary. 

"  I  think  you  then,  so  imprudent,  so  litigious  and 
quarrelsome  a  man,  even  with  your  best  friends,  thai 
peace  and  good  order,  and  consequently  the  quiet 
and  regular  subordination  so  necessary  to  success. 
are,  where  you  preside,  impossible.  These  are  with- 
in  my  observation  and  apprehension.  Your  military 
operations  I  leave  to  more  capable  judges.  If,  there- 
fore, I  had  twenty  ships  of  war,  I  should  not  give  one 
of  them  to  Captain  Landais.  The  same  temper 
which  excluded  him  from  the  French  marine  would 
weigh  equally  with  me." 

It  was  one  important  object  of  Captain  Jones  to 
get  prisoners,  that  by  an  exchange  he  might  release 
the  American  prisoners  who  were  suffering  the  most 
barbarous  treatment  in  the  prisons  of  England.  He 
tarried  with  him  into  the  Texel,  five  hundred  Bri- 
tish captives.  Franklin  proposed  to  the  British  gov- 
ernment to  exchange  them  for  an  equal  number  of 
Americans.  But  the  ministry  refused.  They  sent  a 
large  number  of  men-of-war  to  watch  the  channel, 
and  cruise  off  the  Texel,  quite  confident,  that  they 
should  be  able  to  capture  the  prisoners  as  soon  as 
any  attempt  was  made  to  transport  them  to  France. 
For  some  time  they  refused  to  exchange  American 


156  PAUL  JONEh. 

prisoners  on  an>   terms.     They  would  surrender  the 
French  captives  alone,  in  return  for  the  English. 

The  sympathies  of  kind-hearted  Captain  Jones 
were  deeply  moved  in  behalf  of  the  captive  Ameri 
cans.  And  yet  his  feelings  would  not  allow  him  to 
retaliate  in  treating  with  inhumanity  the  British  pri- 
soners  in  his  hands.  They  were  generally  poor  and 
ignorant  men.  Not  a  few  had  been  impressed  into 
the  service.  They  were  not  responsible  for  the  cru- 
elty of  the  government,  over  which  they  had  no 
control.  There  was  a  large  party  in  England  totally 
opposed  to  this  unrighteous  war,  and  still  more  op- 
posed to  the  barbarity  with  which  the  government 
was  conducting  it. 

When  it  was  proposed  and  carried  in  Parliament 
to  employ  the  savages  as  the  allies  of  Great  Britain, 
— to  hire  the  savages,  with  torch  and  tomahawk  and 
scalping  knife,  in  midnight  assault,  to  burn  the  log- 
cabins  and  butcher  the  helpless  women  and  children 
in  their  lonely  homes,  far  away  in  the  wilderness, 
hundreds  of  voices  were  raised  in  indignant  remon- 
strance. The  Earl  of  Chatham  exclaimed,  in  the 
House  of  Lords,  in  one  of  the  most  eloquent  and 
impassioned  of  addresses : 

"  I  am  astonished,  I  am  shocked,  to  hear  such 
principles  confessed ;  to  hear  them  avowed  in  this 
house  or  in  this  country.     Were  I  an  American,  as  I 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  1$} 

&m  an  Englishman,  I  would  never  lay  down  my  arms 
-  never,  never  never." 

One  of  the  London  Journals  of  September  2ist, 
1779,  contains  the  following  notice:  "The  master 
of  a  sloop  from  Harwich,  who  arrived  yesterday,  saw 
on  Saturday  last,  no  less  than  eleven  sail-of-war 
going  in  search  of  Paul  Jones,  and  among  them  was 
the  Edgar  of  seventy-four  guns.  By  the  examina- 
tion of  four  men,  belonging  to  one  of  Paul  Jones's 
squadron,  it  appears  that  Jones's  orders  were  not  tc 
burn  any  houses  or  towns.  What  an  example  oi 
honor  and  greatness  does  America  thus  show  to  us 
While  our  troops  are  running  about  from  town  to 
town  on  their  coast,  burning  everything  with  a  wan- 
ton wicked  barbarity,  Dr.  Franklin  gives  no  orders  tc 
retaliate.  He  is  above  it.  And  there  was  a  time 
when  an  English  minister  would  have  disdained  to 
make  war  in  so  vlllanous  a  mode.  It  is  a  disgrace 
to  the  nation." 

The  London  Chronicle  of  October  17th,  1779,  con> 
tained  the  following  notice  :  "  Last  Tuesday  Paul 
Jones,  with  his  prizes,  the  Serapis  and  Scarborough 
entered  the  Texel,  and  appeared  on  the  exchange, 
where  business  gave  way  to  curiosity.  The  crowd 
pressing  upon  him,  by  whom  he  was  styled  the  terror 
of  the  English,  he  withdrew  to  a  room  fronting  a 
public    square,    where    Monsieur    Donneville,    tbt 


15^  I'AUL  JONES. 

French  agent,  and  the  Americans,  paid  him  such  a 
vclley  of  compliments,  and  such  homage  as  he  could 
only  answer  with  a  bow.  He  was  dressed  in  the 
American  uniform,  with  a  Scotch  bonnet  edged  with 
gold  ;  is  of  a  middling  stature,  stern  countenance,  anc 
swarthy  complexion. 

Captain  Cunningham  had  received  a  commission 
for  a  privateer,  from  Commissioners  Franklin  and 
Deane.  He  had  cruised  in  the  Channel  with  great 
success,  and  had  become  quite  a  terror  to  the  Eng- 
lish. Being  captured  he  was  treated  with  such 
barbarity  that  Congress  twice  passed  resolutions 
threatening  retaliation.  But  the  humanity  of  the 
nation  recoiled  from  plunging  innocent  men  into 
loathsome  dungeons,  and  freezing  and  starving  them, 
to  retaliate  for  crimes  committed  by  those  who  were 
clothed  in  purple  and  fine  linen  and  who  fared  sump- 
tuously  every  day.  Captain  Jones  wrote  to  Dr. 
Franklin,  from  Amsterdam,  under  the  date  of 
October  nth,  1779: 

"  As  I  am  informed  that  Captain  Cunningham  is 
threatened  with  unfair  play  by  the  British  govern- 
ment, I  am  determined  to  keep  in  my  hands  the 
captain  of  the  Serapis,  as  a  hostage  for  Cunning- 
ham's release  as  a  prisoner  of  war.  I  wish  heartily 
that  poor  Cunningham,  whom  I  am  taught  to  regard 
%s  a  Continental  officer,  was  exchanged,  as  with  his 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  1 59 

assistance    I   could   form   a   court-martial,  which    I 
believe  you  will  see  unavoidable." 

Captain  Pearson  and  the  other  British  prisoners 
were  provided  for,  in  all  respects,  as  comfortably  as 
circumstances  would  allow.  And  yet  the  English 
captain  wrote  the  following  curious  complaint  to  his 
illustrious  captor.  We  do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  cor- 
rect his  bad  grammar.  The  letter  was  dated  October 
19th,  1799. 

*'  Captain  Pearson  presents  his  compliments  to 
Captain  Jones,  and  is  sorry  to  find  himself  so  little 
attended  to  in  his  present  situation,  as  not  to  have 
been  favored  with  either  a  Call  or  a  line  from  Cap- 
tain Jones  since  his  return  from  Amsterdam.  Cap- 
tain Pearson  is  sorry  to  say  that  he  cannot  look  upon 
such  behavior  in  any  other  light  than  as  a  breach  of 
that  Civility  which  his  rank,  as  well  as  behavior  on 
all  occasions  entitles  to ;  he,  at  the  same  time, 
wishes  to  be  informed,  by  Captain  Jones,  whether 
any  steps  has  been  taken  towards  the  enlargement  or 
exchange  of  him,  his  officers  and  people,  or  what  is 
intended  to  be  done  v/ith  them.  As  he  cannot  help 
thinking  it  a  very  unprecedented  circumstance  theif 
being  keeped  here  as  prisoners,  on  board  of  ship, 
being  so  long  in  a  neutral  port.** 

The  dignifieii  reply  of  Captain  Jones  deservcf 
insertion  in  full.     The  English  Gover  iment,  througb 


S60  PAUL  JONES. 

its  ambassador  at  the  Hague,  had  positively  refused 
to  ransom  the  English  prisoners,  at  the  Texel  by 
exchanging  for  them  American  prisoners.  Captain 
Pearson  could  not  have  been  ignorant  of  this  fact. 
The  reply  was  dated  on  board  the  Serapis,  October 
20th,  1779. 

**  As  you  have  not  been  prevented  from  corre- 
sponding with  your  friends,  and  particularly  with 
the  English  ambassador  at  the  Hague,  I  could  not  sup- 
pose you  to  be  unacquainted  with  his  memorial  of  the 
8th,  to  the  States  General,  and  therefore  I  thought  it 
fruitless  to  pursue  the  negociation  for  the  exchange 
of  the  prisoners  of  war  now  in  our  hands. 

"  I  wished  to  avoid  any  painful  altercation  with 
you  on  that  subject.  I  was  persuaded  that  you  had 
been  in  the  highest  degree  sensible  that  my  beha*- 
vior  toward  you  had  been  far  from  a  breach  of  civil- 
ity. This  charge,  sir,  is  not  a  civil  return  for  the 
polite  hospitality  and  disinterested  attentions  you 
have  hitherto  experienced. 

"  I  know  not  what  difference  of  respect  is  due  to 
Rank  between  your  service  and  ours.  I  suppose 
however  the  difference  must  be  thought  very  great  m 
EngJand,  since  I  am  informed  that  Captain  Cunning. 
Dam,  of  equal  denomination  and  who  bears  a  senioi 
'Tank,  in  the  service  of  America,  than  yours  in  th« 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  l6l 

service  of  England,  is  now  confined  in  England,  in  a 
dungeon  and  in  fetters  / 

"  Humanity,  which  has  hitherto  superseded  th« 
plea  of  retaliation  in  American  breasts,  has  induced 
me,  notwithstanding  the  procedure  of  Sir  Joseph 
Yorke,*  to  seek  after  permission  to  land  the  danger- 
ously wounded,  as  well  prisoners  as  Americans,  to  be 
supported  and  cured  at  the  expense  of  our  continent. 
The  permission  of  the  government  has  been  ob- 
tained ;  but  the  magistrates  continue  to  make  ob- 
jections. I  shall  not  discontinue  my  application.  I 
am  ready  to  adopt  any  means  you  may  propose  for 
their  preservation  and  recovery;  and,  in  the  mean- 
time, we  shall  continue  to  treat  them  with  the  ut- 
most care  and  attention,  equally,  as  you  know,  to  the 
treatment  of  our  people  of  the  same  rank. 

"As  it  is  possible  that  you  have  not  yet  seen 
the  memorial  of  your  ambassador  to  the  States  Gen- 
eral, I  enclose  a  paper  which  contains  a  copy.  And 
I  think  he  has  since  written  what,  in  the  opinion  of 
good  men,  will  do  still  less  honor  to  his  pen.  I  can- 
not conclude  without  informing  you  that  unless  Cap- 

*  Sir  Joseph  Yorke  was  the  British  ambassador  at  the  Hague 
He  insisted  that  the  Dutch  Government  should  take  from  CaptaJn 
fcn-es.  ihe  Serapis  and  the  Countess  of  Scarborough.  He  said  thai 
ti  England  had  not  recognized  the  United  States,  the  captures  vrert 
ilii^td,  ai>  a  commission  had  not  been  granted  to  Captain  Jores  b;  r 
lOTereign  power. 


i62  PAUL    [ONEb. 

tain  Cunningham  is  immediately  better  treated  in 
England,  I  expect  orders,  in  consequence,  from  his 
Excellency,  Dr.  Franklin.  Therefore,  I  beseech  you, 
air,  to  interfere." 

The  British  Government,  by  threats,  so  intimi. 
dated  the  States  General,  that  they  disavowed  any 
intention  of  recognizing  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States.  They  refused  to  furnish  Captain 
Jones  with  any  munitions  of  war,  and  ordered  him 
immediately  to  leave  the  Texel.  This  seemed  to 
insure  his  utter  destruction ;  for  powerful  British 
men-of-war  were  cruising  just  off  the  island,  on  the 
watch  to  grasp  him  the  moment  he  should  put  to  sea. 

In  a  memorial  which  the  British  minister.  Sir 
Joseph  Yorke,  presented  on  the  29th  of  September, 
he  wrote  : 

"  I  cannot  but  comply  with  the  strict  orders  of 
his  majesty  (the  king  of  England)  by  renewing,  in 
the  strongest  and  most  pressing  manner  his  request, 
that  these  ships  and  their  crews  may  be  stopped  and 
dehvered  up,  which  the  pirate  Paul  Jones,  of  Scot- 
land, who  is  a  rebel  subject,  and  a  criminal  of  the 
state,  has  taken."  He  also  demanded  that  all  the 
officers  of  the  United  States  navy  should  be  treated 
TJ^  pirates ;  for  their  commissions  were  illegal,  not 
having  been  granted  by  a  government  which  Eng 
land  had  recognized  as  a  sovereign  power. 


RESULT  OF   THE   VICTORY.  163 

But  the  French  Government  promptly  and  effi- 
ciently interfered.  It  assured  the  States  General 
that  though  Captain  Jones  received  his  commission 
fiom  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  still  that  he 
also  sailed  under  the  sanction  of  the  flag  of  France* 
in  a  French  ship,  and  that  the  French  flag  covered 
the  prizes  he  had  captured.  The  sympathies  of  the 
Dutch  Government  were  with  America.  Under  this 
complicated  state  of  affairs  it  was  decided  that  prizei 
which  Captain  Jones  had  taken  with  French  ships 
should  be  regarded  as  prizes  belonging  to  the  king 
of  France ;  and  that  Captain  Jones  should  take  com- 
mand of  the  American  frigate  the  Alliance. 

In  obedience  with  this  order,  at  midnight,  Cap- 
tain Jones,  having  delivered  to  the  French  ambassa- 
dor the  ships  and  prizes  which  were  deemed  to 
belong  to  the  French  king,  took  command  of  the 
Alliance,  and  surrendered  the  Serapis  to  Captain 
Cottineau  of  the  Pallas.  The  eccentric  if  not  insane 
Landais  quarrelled  with  almost  every  one  who  ap- 
proached him.  He  challenged  Captain  Cottineau  to 
a  duel  He  was  a  very  accomplished  swordsman. 
Very  unwisely.  Captain  Cottineau,  who  was  not 
paiticularly  skilful  with  that  weapon,  allowed  his 
insulting  opponent,  in  addition  to  many  other 
wrongs  and  outrages,  the  privilege  of  thrusting  his 
iword  through  his  opponent's  body,  inflicting  a  very 


164  PAUL  JONES. 

painful,  disabling,  and  dangerous  wound.  Landaia 
then  sent  a  similar  challenge  to  Captain  Jones,  who 
very  properly  replied  by  sending  officers  to  an  est. 
him.  Upon  this  he  fled  and  made  his  way  to  Paris, 
^/here  we  shall  again  hear  of  him. 

Extracts  from  Captain  Jones's  letters  will  show, 
better  than  any  description,  the  noble  character  of 
this  truly  noble  man  ;  a  man  who  has  been  strangely 
misrepresented.  He  wrote  to  the  Marquis  de  Lafay- 
ette, from  the  Serapis,  at  the  Texel,  on  the  28th  of 
October,  1779: 

"  The  late  brutalities  of  the  Britons  in  America 
fill  me  with  horror  and  indignation.  They  forget 
that  they  are  men.  And  I  believe  that  nothing  will 
bring  tnem  to  their  senses  but  the  most  exemplary 
retaliation. 

"  I  wish  to  answer,  very  particularly,  the  points 
which  you  have  propounded.  1st,  I  never  meant  to 
ask  a  reward  for  my  services,  either  from  France  or 
America.  Consequently  the  approbation  of  the 
Court  and  of  the  Congress  is  all  the  gratification  I  can 
wish  for.  2d,  I  yet  intend  to  undertake  whatever 
the  utmost  exertion  of  my  abilities  will  reach  in  sup. 
port  of  the  common  cause,  as  far  as  any  force  that 
may  in  future  be  intrusted  to  my  direction  m-ay 
enable  tc  succeed." 

One  of  the  London  journals,  of  September  2Qth 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY,  165 

{779,  gives  the  following  amusing  exaggeration  of 
the  force  under  Captain  Jones's  command,  and  of  the 
terror  his  achievements  had  inspired  : 

**  An  express  has  arrived  from  Aymouth  v  ith 
Lnformation  that  Paul  Jones  was  off  there  with  five 
jhips  of  war  and  two  thousand  troops ;  that  on  the 
19th  they  appeared  off  Sunderland  and  put  the 
inhabitants  into  great  confusion,  as  they  expected 
them  to  land  every  hour,  or  destroy  the  ships  in  the 
harbor." 

Another  London  journal  gives  the  following 
account  of  this  celebrated  cruise  : 

**  On  Saturday  noon  two  gentlemen  of  the  cor- 
poration  of  Hull  arrived  express  at  the  Admiralty, 
with  the  alarming  account  that  the  celebrated  Amer- 
ican Corsair,  Paul  Jones,  had  entered  the  river  H um- 
ber, on  Thursday  last,  and  chased  a  vessel  within  a 
mile  of  the  pier,  where  he  sunk,  burned,  and  de- 
stroyed sixteen  valuable  vessels,  which  threw  the 
whole  town  and  neighborhood  into  the  utmost  con- 
sternation. 

*'  On  Saturday  night  another  express  arrived,  at 
the  Admiralty,  with  the  further  disagreeable  intelli- 
gence that  Paul  Jones's  squadron,  after  having  done 
more  mischief  to  the  shipping  on  Friday,  had  fallen 
in  with  the  Baltic  fleet,  had  taken  their  convoy,  the 
Serapis  man-of-^war,  of  forty-four  guns  and  the  armed 


l66  PAUL  JONES. 

«hip,  the  Countess  of  Scarborough,  of  twenty-foui 
guns.  This  action  was  seen  by  thousands  of  specta 
tors.  Ths  other  ships  of  Jones's  squadron  were  mak 
ing  havoc  among  the  fleet,  most  of  which,  howevei 
had  taken  shelter  near  Flamborough  Head. 

"  From  four  captured  Americans  it  was  discovered 
that  it  was  Jones's  plan  to  alarm  the  coasts  of  Wales, 
Ireland,  the  western  parts  of  Scotland,  and  the  North 
Channel.  He  took  several  prizes  on  the  coast  of 
Ireland,  particularly  two  armed  transports  with 
stores  for  New  York.  He  had  it  in  his  power  to 
burn  Leith;  but  his  orders  are  only  to  burn  ship- 
ping. His  squadron  is  now  but  weakly  manned, 
owing  to  the  great  number  of  prizes  he  has  taken ; 
and  it,  therefore,  may  fall  an  easy  conquest  to  the 
sixteen  sail  of  men-of-war  who  have  orders  to  go 
after  him. 

"  Expresses  also  arrived  on  Saturday,  from  Sun- 
derland, stating  that  Paul  Jones  had  taken  sixteen 
more  sail  of  colliers.  In  consequence  of  the  capture 
of  so  many  colHers  and  the  interruption  of  the  trade, 
the  price  of  coal  will  be  enormous.  Instead  of  hav- 
ing the  dominion  of  the  sea,  it  is  now  evident  that 
we  are  not  able  to  defend  our  own  coast  from  depre- 
dations. Yesterday  Lord  Sandwich  informed  some 
Russian  merchants  that  twenty  of  his  Majesty'j 
ships  were  sent  in  quest  of  Paul  Jones." 


RESULT   OF  THE  VICTORY.  167 

Franklin,  who  was  ever  in  very  cordial  sympathy 
with  Paul  Jones,  wrote  him  many  and  very  affec- 
tionate letters  when  the  heroic  conqueror,  entirely 
destitute  of  funds,  was  surrounded  with  embarrass- 
ments, at  the  Texel,  sufficient  to  break  down  the 
spirits  and  to  crush  the  energies  of  any  ordinary 
man.  It  was  indeed  a  question  how  the  prisoners 
were  to  be  conveyed  to  France.  Those  northern 
seas  were  swarming  with  English  ships,  whose  com- 
manders were  intensely  anxious  to  capture  the  com- 
missioned naval  officer  of  the  United  States,  whose 
commission  was  ratified  by  alliance  with  France,  and 
whom  they  still  had  the  insolence  to  stigmatize  as  a 
pirate,  Franklin  wrote  to  him,  under  date  of  Octo- 
ber 15,  1779: 

"  I  am  uneasy  about  your  prisoners.  I  wish  they 
were  safe  in  France.  You  will  then  have  completed 
the  glorious  work  of  giving  liberty  to  all  the  Ameri 
cans,  who  have  so  long  languished  for  it  in  the  Bri- 
tish prisons ;  for  there  are  not  so  many  there  as  you 
have  now  taken.'* 

Paul  Jones,  in  command  of  his  squadron,  was 
rightly  entitled  to  the  designation  of  commodore. 
lie  was  so  regarded  by  the  French  court,  who  had 
intrusted  to  him  the  fleet.  He  is  thus  addressed 
by  the  Duke  of  Vauguyon      In  a  letter,  under  date 


f68  PAUL  JONES. 

of  December  21,  1779,  addressed  to  Commod*.*/^ 
Jones,  the  duke  writes : 

" ''.  have  received,  my  dear  commodore,  the  let. 
rer  you  have  addressed  to  me.  I  perceive,  with 
pain,  that  you  do  not  view  your  situation  in  the 
right  light.  I  can  assure  you  that  the  ministers  of 
the  king  have  no  intention  to  cause  you  the  least 
disagreeable  feelings,  as  the  honorable  testimonials 
of  the  esteem  of  his  majesty,  which  I  send  you, 
ought  to  convince  you." 

Every  eminent  man  must  have  rivals  and  ene- 
mies. There  were  scores  of  French  officers  hunger- 
ing for  high  command.  They  envied  the  renown  of 
Jones.  They  complained  that  they  were  neglected, 
while  a  foreig^ier  was  intrusted  with  the  command 
of  French  ships.  Many  of  these  complainants  were 
nobles  of  great  wealth  as  well  as  illustrious  rank. 
The  French  ministry  thus  had  great  embarrassments 
to  encounter.  They  appreciated  highly  the  services 
of  Commodore  Jones.  They  were  very  desirous  of 
immediately  giving  him  new  employment.  And  yet 
they  felt  under  the  necessity  of  leaving  him,  for  a 
time,  in  idleness,  greatly  to  his  chagrin.  The  impa- 
tience he  manifested  under  these  circumstances 
reflect  honor  upon  his  patriotic  enthusiasm.  He 
wrote  to  the  Duke  of  Vauguyon,  on  the  2$th  of 
December,  1779,  as  follows: 


RESULT  OF  THE  VICTORY.  1 69 

**  You  do  me  great  honor  as  well  as  justice,  my 
lord,  by  observing  that  no  satisfaction  can  be  more 
precious  to  me  than  that  of  giving  new  proofs  of  my 
zeal  for  the  common  cause  of  France  and  Ameiica. 
And  the  interest  you  take  to  facilitate  the  means  of 
my  g"iving  such  proofs,  by  essential  services,  claims 
my  best  thanks.  I  hope  I  shall  not,  through  any 
imprudence  of  mine,  render  ineffectual  any  noble 
design  that  may  be  in  contemplation  for  the  general 
good.  Whenever  that  object  is  mentioned,  my 
private  concerns  are  out  of  the  question. 

"  With  a  deep  sense  of  your  generous  sentiments 
of  personal  regard  toward  me,  and  with  the  most 
sincere  wishes  to  meet  that  regard  by  my  conduct 
through  life,  I  am,"  etc. 

The  Dutch  Government,  goaded  by  the  menaces 
of  England,  though  it  dared  not  command  the 
French  ships  to  leave  its  ports,  insisted  that  the 
American  commodore,  whose  government  Holland 
had  not  yet  recognized,  should  immediately,  with 
the  American  frigate  the  Alliance,  leave  the  TexeL 
But  there  were  twelve  British  men-of-war,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor,  watching  for  him.  Eight  were 
at  the  northern  entrance  of  the  port,  and  four  at  the 
southern. 

Commodore  Jones,  for  I  shall  henceforth  give 
him  the  designation  to  which  I  consider  him  justly 


I/O  PAUL  JONES. 

entitled,  kept  the  banner  of  the  Stars  and  Stripes 
proudly  floating  from  the  mast-head  of  the  Alliance. 
He  also  unflinchingly  declared  that  he  never  bore  any 
commission  but  that  which  he  received  from  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  of  America.  It  was 
said  that  then  were,  in  all,  forty  British  men-of-war 
cruising  in  the  German  Ocean,  so  as  to  render  the 
escape  of  Paul  Jones  impossible.  The  Dutch 
admiral,  on  the  I2th,  informed  him  they  must  insist 
upon  his  sailing  with  the  first  fair  wind. 

To  add  to  his  embarrassments  he  found  that 
Landais  had  left  the  Alliance  in  the  most  deplorable 
condition,  totally  unfit  for  service  without  extensive 
repairs.  She  v/as  an  admirable  ship  in  model  and 
construction,  and  was  remarkable  for  her  sailing 
-qualities.  But,  through  sheer  negligence  and  general 
demoralization,  nearly  everything  was  in  a  ruinous 
condition.  The  sails  were  worn  out.  The  cables 
had  gone  to  decay.  Her  battery  was  in  a  condition 
unfit  for  action,  and  her  small  arms  quite  out  of 
order.  Most  of  the  powder  had  either  become  dam- 
aged by  leakage,  or  rendered  unfit  for  use  by  neglect- 
ing to  turn  the  kegs.  The  officers  were  all  quarrel- 
ling with  each  other,  and  the  men  insubordinate. 
Intemperance  and  the  want  of  cleanliness,  with  the 
total  absence  of  discipline,  had  struck  down  manj 
of  the  crew  with  epidemical  diseases. 


RESULT  OF  THE    VICTORY.  1^1 

Commodore  Jones  made  the  most  vigorous  efforts 
to  prepare  the  Alliance  for  sea ;  and  he  promised  the 
government  that  he  would  leave,  at  all  hazards,  as 
soon  as  the  wind  would  serve.  But  before  he  sailed 
he  enjoyed  the  great  gratification  of  learning  that 
Dr.  Franklin  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  libera- 
tion of  all  the  American  prisoners  in  England,  by 
exchanging  for  them  the  prisoners  Commooore 
Jones  had  captured.  He  also  had  the  happiness  of 
grasping  the  hand,  at  the  Texel,  of  Captain  Cunning- 
ham, who,  by  the  energies  of  Commodore  Jones,  had 
been  rescued  from  the  most  dreadful  bondage. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Commodore  Jones  at  Court, 

OffcT  of  a  Privateersman. — Indignant  Reply. — The  Renown  of  Ccr« 
modore  Jcnes, — Successful  Retreat. — Cruise  through  the  Chan 
nel. — Poetic  Efiiision, — Enters  Corunna. — Letter  to  Lafayette- 
Embarrassed  Finances  of  Franklin. — Intrigues  of  Landais. — HI: 
Efforts  to  Excite  Mutiny. — Testimony  against  him. — Coouno 
dorc  Jones  at  Court. 

It  was  indeed  running  the  gauntlet,  for  Commcv 
dore  Jones,  with  a  frigate  of  but  thirty-four  guns, 
and  in  poor  sailing  trim,  to  escape  from  the  Texel, 
and  run  down  the  German  Ocean,  through  the  Eng- 
lish Channel  and  the  Straits  of  Dover,  to  some 
French  port,  when  the  whole  available  force  of  the 
British  navy  was  on  the  lookout  for  him,  with 
twelve  men-of-war  cruising  before  the  mouth  of  the 
harbor.  It  would  seem  that,  under  those  circum- 
stances, escape  were  impossible. 

Jdst  before  sailing,  the  French  minister,  M.  de  la 
Sartine,  offered  Commodore  Jones,  through  the 
Duke  de  Vauguyon,  a  commission  as  captain  of  a 
privateersman,  which  several  gentleman  of  wealth 
had  fitted  out.  in  the  best  possible  manner,  to  enrich 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  I73 

Ihemselves  by  preying  upon  British  commerce. 
This  assumption  that  Commodore  Jones  was  a 
mere  adventurer,  guided  by  the  love  of  money,  he 
regarded  as  an  insult.  In  indignant  terms  he  re- 
jected the  offer.  Under  date  of  December  13th,  he 
wrote  to  the  duke,  as  follows : 

"  My  Lord:  Perhaps  there  are  many  men  in  the 
world,  who  would  esteem  as  an  honor  the  commis- 
sion that  I  have  this  day  refused.  My  rank,  from 
the  beginning,  knew  no  superior  in  the  marine  of 
America.  How  then  must  I  be  humbled  were  I  to 
receive  a  letter  of  marque.  It  is  a  matter  of  the 
highest  astonishment  to  me  that,  after  so  many  com- 
pliments and  fair  professions,  the  court  should  offer 
the  present  insult  to  my  understanding,  and  suppose 
me  capable  of  disgracing  my  present  commission.  I 
confess  that  I  never  merited  all  the  praise  bestowed 
on  my  past  conduct ;  but  I  also  feel  that  I  have  far 
less  merited  such  a  reward." 

The  letter  containing  these  sentiments  he  en- 
closed in  one  to  Dr.  Franklin,  that  it  might  be  pre- 
sented by  him  to  the  duke,  if  it  met  his  approval 
In  his  letter  he  still  more  forcibly  gave  expressior 
to  his  wounded  feelings.     The  heroic  man  added : 

**  We  hear  that  the  enemy  still  keeps  a  squadron 
criising  off  here.  But  this  shall  not  prevent  my  at- 
tempts to  depart,  whenever  the  wind   will  permit. 


tf^  PAUL  JONES. 

I  hope  we  have  recovered  the  trim  of  this  ship, 
which  was  entirely  lost  during  the  last  cruise  ;  and  I 
do  not  much  fear  the  enemy  in  the  long  and  dark 
nights  of  this  season.  The  ship  is  well-manned,  and 
shall  not  be  given  away.  I  need  not  tell  you,  that  I 
will  do  my  utmost  to  take  prisoners  and  prizes,  in 
my  way  from  hence." 

The  great  victory  Commodore  Jones  had  achieved 
gave  him  singular  renown.  The  ladies,  especially, 
were  charmed  by  his  chivalry.  He  received  con- 
stant attentions  from  the  most  eminent  in  rank. 
The  palace  and  the  castle  opened  their  doors  to 
welcome  him.  He  had  the  most  urgent  invitations 
to  \4bit  Amsterdam  and  to  enjoy  the  hospitalities  of 
the  court.  But  all  these  flattering  attentions  h» 
avoided  as  much  as  possible.  One  great  passion  ab- 
sorbed his  soul.  All  his  energies  were  consecrated 
to  the  sublime  mission  of  emancipating  the  United 
States,  and  ennobling  their  flag. 

"  Duty,"  he  said,  "  must  take  the  precedence  of 
pleasure.  I  must  wait  a  more  favorable  opportunity 
to  kiss  the  hands  of  the  fair." 

The  Alliance  had  a  picked  crew  of  four  hundred 
and  twenty-seven  men.  Nearly  all  these  were  Ameri- 
cans. Many  of  them  had  been  liberated  from  British 
prisons  by  the  energies  of  Commodore  Jones.  He 
impressed   upon   both  officers   and  crew  his  deter 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  175 

mination  that  he  should  never  shrink  from  an  en^ 
gagement  with  any  EngHsh  ship  which  did  not 
mount  more  than  fifty  guns. 

The  night  of  the  26th  of  December  was  dark, 
with  a  fresh,  fair  wind.  The  Alliance,  in  the  mid- 
night gloom,  proudly  unfurled  at  her  mast-head 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  Every  inch  of  canvas  was 
spread  to  catch  the  breeze.  Flying  closely  along  the 
Flemish  banks,  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  elude  the 
observation  of  the  fleets  watching  for  his  capture. 
Before  the  morning  dawned  he  was  far  away  upon 
the  broad  expanse  of  the  German  Ocean,  where 
fleets  might  cruise  for  weeks  and  not  meet  each 
other.  There  had  been  a  very  severe  gale  just 
before  the  departure  of  the  Alliance,  which  blew  so 
fiercely  upon  the  shore,  that  the  English  squadron 
had  been  compelled  to  put  to  sea  for  safety.  Doubt- 
less to  this  event  Commodore  Jones  was  much  in- 
debted for  his  escape. 

This  successful  retreat  of  Commodore  Jones 
from  the  overwhelming  forces  which  surrounded  him 
is  regarded,  by  naval  authorities,  as  one  of  the  most 
successful  of  naval  exploits.  Keeping  well  to  the 
windward  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  he  traversed  the  North 
Sea,  sailing  through  the  narrow  Straits  of  Dover,  in 
full  view  of  the  British  fleet  in  the  Downs  ;  passed 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  almost  within  hailing  distance  of 


l^  PAUL  JONES. 

the  shore,  though  quite  a  fleet  was  at  anchor  at  Spit 
head;  and,  though  he  saw  two-decked  cruising  ships 
of  the  enemy  before  him  and  behind  him  and  ca 
each  side  of  him,  he  eluded  them  all,  safely  emerged 
from  the  British  Channel  and  continued  his  course 
down  the  western  coast  of  France.  This  was  a  voy- 
age of  not  less  than  fifteen  hundred  miles. 

Sometime  before  leaving  the  Texel  he  had 
received  a  complimentary  poetic  epistle  from  a 
young  lady  at  the  Hague,  who  addressed  him  as 
King  of  the  Sea.  When  fairly  out  upon  the  Ger- 
man Ocean,  with  leisure  hours,  he  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1780,  went  into  his  cabin  and  wrote  a  poetic 
reply.  He  was  not  a  poet.  But  it  is  very  doubt- 
ful whether  Lord  Nelson,  under  the  circumstances, 
could  have  done  as  well.  As  a  specimen  of  his  skill 
in  versification  I  will  give  the  last  stanza. 

"  But  since,  alas  !  the  rage  of  war  prevails. 
And  cruel  Britons  desolate  our  land, 
For  freedom  still  I  spread  my  willing  sails. 

My  unsheathed  sword  my  injured  country  shall  commftmd. 
Go  on,  bright  maid  ;  the  muses  all  attend 
Genius  like  thine,  and  wish  to  be  its  friend. 
Trust  me,  although  conveyed  through  this  poor  &hift, 
My  New  Year's  thought*  are  grateful  for  thy  gift." 

O)mmodore  Jones  was  ver>^  desirous  of  not  going 
empty-handed  into  port.  It  was  not  enough  for  him 
merely  to  elude  his  enemies.     He  v/as  resolved,  i/ 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  1/7 

possible,  to  take  some  prizes.  He  therefore  ran 
down  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  westerly  along  the  coast 
of  Spain,  several  hundred  miles,  in  a  region  where  it 
x^s  very  certain  that  the  British  men-of-war  would 
not  be  searching  for  him. 

When  cruising  off  Cape  Finisterre,  the  extreme 
northwesterly  cape  of  Spain,  he  encountered  a  very 
severe  storm.  This  led  him  to  run  for  shelter  into 
the  Spanish  port  of  Corunna,  where  there  was  a  fine 
harbor.  I  may  remark,  in  passing,  that  this  Corunna 
subsequently  became  renowned  in  history.  Southey 
writes : 

"  Its  filth  is  astonishing.  Other  towns  attract 
the  ej^e  of  the  traveller.  But  Corunna  takes  his  at- 
tention by  the  nose,** 

This  place  became  famous  in  the  struggle 
between  Spain  and  Napoleon  I.  To  this  point  Sir 
John  Moore  was  fleeing  j^  his  disastrous  retreat 
before  Napoleon,  and  near  its  walls  he  fell.  The 
poet  has  immortalized  the  event  in  the  sublime  ode, 
upon  his  burial  by  moonlight. 

**  Not  a  drum  was  heard,  nor  a  funeral  note, 
As  his  corpse  to  the  ramparts  we  hurried : 
Not  a  soldier  discharged  his  farewell  shot, 
O'er  the  grave  where  our  hero  v^-as  buried." 

At  Corunna  Commodore  Jones  was  very  kindly 

received  by  the  Spanish  authorities.     He  remained 
8* 


1/8  PAUL  JONES. 

in  port  twelve  days,  making  sundry  needful  repairs. 
Upon  the  evening  of  his  arrival  he  wrote  to 
Lafayette : 

"  I  made  my  passage  safe  through  the  Channel 
in  spite  of  all  their  cruising  ships  and  squadrons  ;  and 
had  the  pleasure  of  looking  at  them  in  the  Downs, 
and  in  passing  in  sight  of  the  Isle  of  Wight.  I 
steered  this  way  in  hopes  ot  meeting  some  of  their 
cruisers  off  Cape  Finisterre,  but  am  hitherto  disap- 
pointed." 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1780,  he  again  set  sail, 
and  after  the  unsuccessful  cruise  of  a  fortnight, 
entered  the  harbor  of  L'Orient,  in  France,  on  the 
13th  of  February.  This  strongly  fortified  French 
port  is  seated  at  the  head  of  the  bay  Port  Louis, 
about  three  miles  from  the  ocean.  Here  he  learned 
that  he  was  accused  of  cherishing  a  strong  dislike  for 
the  PVench  people.  In  reply  to  this  rumor  he  wrote 
to  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  undei  date  of  Febru- 
ary 1 8th,  1780. 

"  M.  Weibert  has,  I  understand,  taken  great  pains 
to  promulgate  that  I  do  not  love  France.  To  come 
to  the  point,  here  follows  my  political  profession  I 
am  a  citizen  of  the  world,  totally  unfettered  by  the 
little  mean  distinctions  of  country  or  of  cHmate, 
which  diminish  or  set  bounds  to  the  benevclence  of 
the  heart.     Impelled  by  principles  of  gratitude  and 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  I/g 

philanthropy  I  drew  my  sword  at  the  beginning  of 
the  American  Revolution.  And  when  France  so 
nobly  espoused  that  great  cause,  no  individual  felt 
the  obligation  with  truer  gratitude  than  myself. 
When  the  Court  of  France,  soon  after,  invited  me  to 
remain  for  a  time  in  Europe,  I  considered  myself  as 
highly  honored  by  the  application  that  was  made  to 
the  American  commissioners.  Since  that  time  I 
have  been  at  every  instant,  and  I  still  am,  ready  to 
do  my  utmost  for  the  good  of  the  common  cause  of 
France  and  America. 

"  As  an  American  officer,  and  as  a  man,  I  affec- 
tionately love  and  respect  the  character  and  nation 
of  France,  and  hope  the  alliance  with  America  may 
last  forever.  I  owe  the  greatest  obligation  to  the 
generous  praise  of  the  French  nation  on  my  past 
conduct,  and  shall  be  happy  to  merit  future  favor.  I 
greatly  love  and  esteem  his  most  Christian  Majesty 
as  the  great  ally  of  America,  the  best  of  kings,  and 
the  amiable  friend  and  protector  of  the  rights  of 
human  nature.  Therefore  he  has  few  of  his  own 
subjects  who  would  bleed,  in  his  present  cause,  with 
greater  freedom  than  myself,  and  none  who  are  more 
disinterested.  At  the  same  time  I  lament  the  calam- 
ities of  war,  and  wish,  above  all  things,  for  an  hon^ 
orable,  happy,  and  lasting  peace. 

"  My   fortune   is    not  augmented  by  the   part  I 


l80  PAUL  JONES. 

have  hitherto  acted  in  the  revoktlon,  although  1 
have  had  frequent  opportunities  of  acquiring  riches 
And  I  pledged  myself  to  the  worthy  part  of  man- 
kind,  that  my  future  conduct  in  the  war  shall  not 
forfeit  their  good  opinion.  I  am,  with  great  and  sin- 
cere affection,  happy  in  your  friendship." 

Though  Commodore  Jones  had  not  captured 
any  prize,  he  fortunately  met  an  American  ship,  the 
Livingston,  laden  with  tobacco,  which  he  convoyed 
into  L'Orient. 

The  Alliance  was  needed  to  convey  stores  to  the 
United  Colonies.  But  she  was  in  need  of  very 
thorough  repairs  before  she  could  safely  spread  sail 
on  so  important  a  voyage.  The  seas  were  covered 
with  British  war  vessels  of  double  her  number  of 
guns.  It  was  therefore  essential  that  she  should  be 
prepared  for  a  rapid  flight.  There  were  fifteen 
thousand  stand  of  good  arms  to  be  sent,  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty  large  bales  of  cloth  for  the 
army,  with  other  freight  of  great  value.  The  loss  of 
these  would  prove  a  great  calamity. 

Commodore  Jones  felt  that  it  would  be  madness 
to  undertake  to  cross  the  ocean,  with  so  valuable  a 
cargo,  without  putting  the  ship  in  the  best  possible 
trim.  But  the  French  court,  which  had  been  at 
great  expense  in  fitting  out  its  own  ships,  declined 
furnishing  funds  from  an  exhausted  treasury:   and 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  l8l 

the  American  commissioners  in  Pans,  representatives 
of  the  feeble  colonies,  had  neither  money  nor  credit. 
There  is  true  pathos  in  the  letter  which  Dr.  Frank> 
lin  wrote  the  commodore  on  this  occasion. 

"  As  to  refitting  your  ship,"  he  wrote,  "  at  the 
exper.se  of  this  court,  there  is  not  the  least  proba- 
bility of  obtaining  it  ;  and  therefore  I  cannot  ask  it. 
The  whole  expense  will  therefore  fall  upon  me ;  and 
I  am  ill  provided  to  bear  it,  having  so  many  unex- 
pected calls  upon  me  from  all  quarters.  I  therefore 
beg  you  would  have  mercy  on  me.  Put  me  to  as  lit- 
tle charge  as  possible,  and  take  nothing  you  can 
possibly  do  without.  I  approve  of  your  applying  to 
Messrs.  Gourlade  and  Moylan  for  what  repairs  you 
want,  having  an  exceeding  good  opinion  of  those 
gentlemen.  But  let  me  repeat  it,  for  God's  sake  be 
sparing,  unless  you  mean  to  make  me  a  bankrupt,  or 
have  your  drafts  dishonored,  for  want  of  money  in 
my  hands  to  pay  them." 

To  this  appeal  the  commodore  replied,  "  I  feel 
your  reasons  for  urging  frugality.  And  as  I  have 
not,  hitherto,  been  among  the  extravagant  servant* 
of  America,  so  you  may  depend  upon  it,  my  regard 
for  you  will  make  me  particularly  nice  in  my  present 
situation." 

By  the  middle  of  April  the  Alliance,  under  the 
very  energetic  and  skilful  superintendence  of  Cora 


1 82  PAUL    'ONES. 

modore  Jones,  was  ready  for  sea.  Competent  judges 
declared  that  it  was  one  of  the  finest  frigates  to  be 
found  in  P'rance.  Though  it  was  manifestly  for 
Commodore  Jones's  pecuniary  interest  to  remain  with 
his  splendid  ship  in  the  region  of  rich  prizes,  where 
at  any  time,  in  a  few  hours,  he  could  run  into  the 
fortified  ports  of  France,  yet,  without  a  murmur,  he 
undertook  the  more  humble  employment  of  convey- 
ing stores  to  America. 

There  were  four  gentlemen  in  Paris,  including 
one  of  the  commissioners,  Mr.  Arthur  Lee,  whc 
wished  to  take  passage  with  him.  Landais,  when 
he^^fled  from  the  Texel,  left  his  trunks  on  board  the 
Alliance.  Doctor  Franklin  wrote  to  Commodore 
Jones : 

"  Captain  Landais  has  demanded  of  me  an  order 
to  you,  to  deliver  to  him  his  trunks.  I  find  him  so 
exceedingly  captious  and  critical,  and  so  apt  to  mis- 
construe, as  an  intended  injustice,  every  expression 
in  a  language  which  he  does  not  immediately  under- 
stand, that  I  am  tired  of  writing  anything  for  him 
or  about  him,  and  air  determined  to  have  nothing 
further  to  do  with  him." 

Innumerable  difficulties  had  arisen  about  the  ad- 
justment and  distribution  of  ike  prizes.  The  sailors 
had  not  received  their  wages,  and  not  even  a  dollar 
of  their  prize  money.     Many  oi"  them  were  in  a  state 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  183 

of  great  destitution.     Their  chests  of  clothing  had 
gone  down  in  the  Bon  Homme  Richard ;  and  aftei 
the  long  delay  in  the  Texel  they  were  almost  in  rags. 
Landais,  having  been  commissioned  by  the  Amer- 
ican Congress,  demanded  to  be  sent  to  this  country 
for   trial    upon    the    charges    brought    against  him. 
This  request  had  been  granted,  and  Dr.  Franklin  had 
furnished  him  with  funds  to  pay  his  passage,  in  the 
Luzerne,  an  American  merchant  ship.     There  were 
many  very  serious  charges  tabled  against  him.     In 
defence  of  the  most  severe  accusation,  that  he  had 
fired  into  the  Bon  Homme  Richard,  he  presented  the 
plea  that  the  two  ships  were  lashed   together,  and 
that  he  could  not  fire  into  the  Serapis,  without  some 
of  his  shot  being  liable  to  strike  the  Richard.     But 
the  testimony  given  by  Nathaniel    Fanning  seems 
conclusive,  as  it   was  corroborated  by  much  other 
testimony.     He   was  stationed  in  the   main-top  of 
the  Richard,  where  he  remained  during  the  whole 
action. 

He  testified  that  two  hours  after  the  engagement 
commenced,  the  Alliance  came  under  the  stern  of 
the  Richard,  and  discharged  her  whole  broadside 
into  the  ship.  She  then  came  under  the  bow  of  the 
Richard,  and  discharged  another  volley  of  grape  and 
round  shot.  The  Alliance  was  within  hail,  and  some 
of  the  officers  of  the  Richard   shouted,  "  For  GodV 


1 84  PAUL   JONES. 

sake  don't  fire  into  us.  You  have  already  killed 
several  of  our  men."  Still  she  fired  a  number  :f  shot 
afterwards  into  the  Richard. 

Another  officer  of  the  Richard  testified  that  he. 
was  standing  on  the  quarter-deck  in  the  midst  of 
the  smoke  and  tumult  of  the  battle,  when  they  were 
struck  by  a  raking  fire,  and  two  men  fell  dead  at  his 
side.  He  then  heard  several  cry  out,  "  The  Alliance 
is  manned  with  Englishmen,  and  is  firing  on  us." 
The  Alliance  then  passed  by,  and  after  a  couple  of 
hours  came  under  their  stem  and  discharged  a  full 
broadside  into  the  Richai  J. 

*'  It  is  my  sincere  opinion,"  this  witness  testified, 
"  that  the  motive  of  Captain  Landais  must  have 
been  to  kill  Captain  Jones,  and  distress  the  Richard, 
so  as  to  cause  her  to  strike  to  the  Serapis,  that  he 
might  be  able  to  take  both  vessels  and  honor  him- 
self with  the  laurels  of  that  day." 

Several  pages  of  similar  testimony  might  be  given. 
All  alike  testified  that  the  Alliance  never  passed  on 
the  off-side  of  the  Serapis ;  but  ever  kept  the  Ri- 
chard between  the  Serapis  and  her  guns.  Thus,  if 
any  of  her  shot  struck  the  Serapis,  they  must  have 
first  passed  through  the  Richard. 

Commodore  Jones,  sympathizing  with  his  men  in 
their  utter  destitution,  and  the  apparent  wrongs 
under  which  they  were  suffering,  felt  constrained  to 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  13$ 

go  personally  to  Paris  to  plead  with  the  court  at 
Versailles,  in  their  behalf.  Months  had  passed  dur- 
ing which  they  had  received  no  wages.  They  had 
captured  many  valuable  prizes,  but  no  money  had 
come  back  to  them.  Two  of  these,  it  will  be  remem- 
bered, which  were  valued  at  two  hundred  thousand 
dollars,  Captain  Landais,  contrary  to  the  orders  of 
Commodore  Jones,  had  sent  to  Norway.  The  Nor- 
wegian Government,  alarmed  by  the  menaces  of 
England,  surrendered  them  both  to  the  British  am- 
bassador, on  the  ground  that  Captain  Jones  had 
not  been  commissioned  by  any  government  which 
Norway  had  recognized. 

The  other  prizes,  which  were  in  French  ports, 
were  to  be  sold  at  auction.  But  in  consequence  of 
some  technicalities  of  the  laws,  whose  delays  are 
proverbial,  the  ships  had  not  yet  been  sold.  The 
commissioners  at  Paris,  in  their  poverty,  sent  to  the 
crew  of  the  Alliance  a  sum  of  money  which  amount- 
ed to  about  ten  dollars  apiece.  This  did  but  excite 
their  indignation  and  derison.  Some,  in  their  cha- 
grin, chucked  the  coin  into  the  water. 

Commodore  Jones  was  a  handsome  man  about 
thirty-six  years  af  age,  of  fine  figure,  fair  complexioij, 
pleasant  features,  and  courtly  bearing.  He  was  a 
man  of  literary  tastes  and  studious  habits.  He 
m-ote  poetry,  and  spoke  the  French  language  witb 


£86  PAUL  JONIS. 

considerable  fluency.  These  personal  and  mental 
accomplishments,  added  to  his  chivalric  exploits,  the 
fame  of  which  had  filled  the  world,  rendered  him  an 
object  of  remarkable  and  universal  attention  in  the 
Court  of  Versailles. 

The  king  was  his  personal  friend,  and  made  him 
a  present  of  an  exquisitely  wrought  gold-headed 
sword.  The  king  and  the  court  were  united  in  lav- 
ishing honor  upon  him.  He  was  invited  to  dine 
with  the  most  illustrious  members  of  that  aristo- 
cratic court.  Wherever  he  appeared,  the  eyes  of 
the  crowd  followed  his  steps.  These  extraordinary 
attentions,  which  were  sufficient  to  turn  the  head  o^ 
any  ordinary  man,  do  not  appear  to  have  diminished, 
m  the  slightest  degree,  Paul  Jones's  zeal  in  the  pub- 
lic service.  The  court  was  then  greatly  embarrassed 
for  money.  The  measureless  extravagances  of 
Louis  XIV.  and  Louis  XV.  had  plunged  the  nation 
into  hopeless  bankruptcy,  and  hourly,  matters  were 
ripening  for  all  the  horrors  of  the  French  Revolu- 
tion. 

Thus  the  court,  though  lavish  in  compliments, 
had  but  little  money  to  confer  in  charity  upon  the 
struggling  colonies.  Commodore  Jones,  with  unu- 
sual literary  culture  for  a  man  in  his  situation,  moved 
through  all  these  scenes  with  the  winning  manners 
of  a  well-bred  man.     He  felt  the  importance  of  con- 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  1 87 

dilating  all  possible  influences  in  favor  of  the  im- 
perilled country  of  his  adoption. 

In  the  court  of  Versailles,  the  ladies  often  con- 
trolled the  most  important  affairs  of  state.  The 
guilty  favorites  of  the  two  preceding  kings  had  in 
a  great  measure  guided  the  destinies  of  Euroi:«. 
Maria  Antoinette  was  far  more  the  sovereign  than 
her  weak  but  well-meaning  spouse. 

Among  the  ladies  of  highest  rank,  by  whom  he 
was  particularly  honored,  were  a  daughter  of  Louis 
XV.,  and  the  Countess  of  Lavendahl. 

An  English  lady  at  Versailles  writes  to  a  friend, 
**  The  famous  Paul  Jones  dines  and  sups  here  often. 
He  is  a  smart  man  of  thirty-six,  speaks  but  little 
French,  appears  to  be  an  extraordinary"  genius,  a 
poet  as  well  as  a  hero.  He  is  greatly  admired  here, 
especially  by  the  ladies,  who  are  wild  for  love  of 
him.  But  he  adores  the  Countess  of  Lavendahl,  who 
has  honored  him  with  every  mark  of  politeness  and 
distinction.  A  few  days  ago  he  wrote  some  verses 
extempore,  of  which  I  send  you  a  copy."  The  foh 
kaw'mg  are  the  verses. 

"  Insulted  freedom  bled  :  I  felt  her  cause, 
And  drew  my  sword  to  vin<licate  her  lawi 
From  principle,  and  not  from  vain  applau»« 
I'tc  done  my  best ;  self-interest  apart 
And  self-reproach  a  stranger  to  my  heart. 
My  zeal  still  prompts,  ambitious  to  pursa* 
The  foe,  ye  fair,  of  liberty  and  you  i 


iSS  PAUL  JONES. 

Grateful  for  praise,  spontaneous  and  unbou^^, 
A.  generous  people's  love  not  meanly  sought ; 
To  merit  this,  and  bend  the  knee  to  beauty 
Shall  be  my  earliest  and  my  latest  duty." 

In  a  subsequent  letter  the  same  lady  wrote, 
'  Since  my  last,  Paul  Jones  drank  tea  and  supped 
here.  If  I  am  in  love  with  him,  for  love  1  may  die. 
I  have  as  many  rivals  as  there  are  ladies.  The 
most  formidable  is  Lady  Lavendrihl  ^'ho  possesses 
all  his  heart.  This  lady  is  of  high  rank  and  virtue, 
very  sensible,  good-natured  and  affable.  Besides 
this,  she  is  possessed  of  youth,  beauty,  wit,  and  every 
other  female  accomplishment." 

Commodore  Jones  had  but  just  left  L'Orient,  on 
the  all-important  mission  to  Versailles,  when  Lan- 
dais  went  to  that  port  to  get  his  trunks  and  to  take 
passage  in  the  Luzerne  for  America.  Finding  the 
commodore  absent,  and  the  crew  almost  in  a  state 
of  mutiny,  he  resolved  to  make  an  attempt  to  re- 
cover  the  command  of  the  Alliance. 

He  represented  that  Jones,  leaving  the  crew  in 
their  destitution,  had  gone  to  Paris  to  enjoy  the 
feasting  and  adulation  which  were  lavished  upon 
him  there.  He  insinuated  that  they  had  been  rob- 
bed of  their  prize  money,  and  that  Jones  and  his 
confederates  had  appropriated  it  to  their  own  luxu- 
rious indulgence.  He  also  represented  that  Jones 
N«as  regarded  by  the  European  courts,  and  would  be 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  l8g 

regarded  by  Coiigress,  simply  as  a  privateersman, 
sailing  on  his  own  account,  and  that  consequently 
his  seamen,  when  they  arrived  in  America,  would  be 
deserted  by  him,  and  that  they  could  expect  no 
wages  from  Congress. 

This  was  very  artful  malice.  It  shows  that  Lan- 
dais  possessed  very  considerable  powers  of  wicked 
intrigue.  He  even  succeeded  in  winning  over  to  his 
side  Commissioner  Lee,  who  was  to  return  in  the 
Alliance,  and  who  was  not  on  very  good  terms  with 
the  other  members  of  the  Congressional  delegation. 
Captain  Landais  obtained  from  Commissioner  Lee 
an  opinion  containing  the  following  statement,  under 
date  of  May,  13th  : 

**  From  documents  exhibited  to  me,  it  is  clear, 
beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  that  Captain  Lan- 
dais commands  the  Alliance,  under  the  full,  direct, 
and  express  order  of  Congress  ;  and  that  no  such 
authority  appears  to  dismiss  him  from  the  command. 
In  this  situation  Captain  Landais  must  answer  at 
his  peril  for  the  frigate  intrusted  to  him,  till  he  re- 
ceives an  order  of  Congress  to  deliver  her  to  another. 
If  such  order  exists,  those  who  have  it  do  infinite 
wrong  to  the  service,  in  not  producing  it.  If  there 
is  no  such  order,  the  subjects  of  the  United  States, 
who  attempt  to  divest  Captain  Landais  of  the  com- 
mand he  holds  from  the  sovereign  power,  or  to  dis- 


190  PAUL  JONES. 

turb  him  by  violence  in  the  exercise  of  it,  commit  a 
high  crime  against  the  laws  and  sovereignity  of  the 
United  States,  and  subject  themselves  to  a  propor-- 
tionable  punishment." 

Mr.  Lee  knew  full  well  the  views  of  Dr.  Franklin 
upon  this  all-important  subject.  Rather  defiantly 
he  wrote :  *'  This  is  my  opinion,  founded  on  a  cool 
and  candid  consideration  of  the  authorities  on  botl 
sides.  You  are  at  liberty  to  show  this  letter  to  whom 
you  please,  or  to  send  it  to  Dr.  Franklin." 

Landais  had  abandoned  the  Alliance  at  the  Texel, 
and  had  run  away,  to  avoid  arrest  for  challenging 
his  superior  officer  to  a  duel.  For  seven  months  hf 
had  not  stepped  on  board  the  ship,  during  which  tim^ 
Jones  had  been  in  undisputed  command.  He  was 
now  virtually  under  arrest,  to  be  sent  back  to  Amer- 
ica to  be  tried  for  one  of  the  most  atrocious  crimes 
which  could  be  committed.  Dr.  Franklin,  learning 
that  Landais  was  still  at  L' Orient,  and  that  he  had 
written  to  some  one,  **  I  am  waiting  for  Franklin's 
orders  to  take  command  of  the  Alliance,"  addressed 
a  letter  to  him,  expressing  his  astonishment  that  he 
was  not  long  before  on  his  way  to  America  for  trial, 
for  which  voyage  Franklin  had  provided  him  with 
funds.  And  he  added,  "  I  waive  any  further  dis- 
pute with  you.  But  I  charge  you  not  to  w fiddle 
with  the  command  of  the  AUiance,  or  to  create  ar^ 


COMMODORE  JONES  AT  COURT.  I9I 

disturbance  on  board  her,  as  you  will  answer  to  th€ 
contrary  at  your  peril." 

Landais  succeeded  in  having  a  paper  drawn  up, 
and  signed  by  one  hundred  and  sixteen  of  the  more 
than  four  hundred  sailors  of  the  Alliance,  which  was 
addressed  to  Dr.  Franklin,  and  which  stated  that 
they  would  not  raise  the  anchor,  to  leave  L'Orient, 
until  they  had  received  six  months*  wages,  the  utmost 
farthing  of  the  prize  money  due,  including  the  ships 
sent  to  Norway,  and  until  their  legal  captain^  Pierre 
Landaisy  was  restored  to  them. 

Dr.  Franklin  immediately  went  to  the  court  at 
Versailles,  which  is  but  twelve  miles  from  Paris,  and 
entered  a  complaint  against  Landais  as  a  fomenter  of 
mutiny.  The  proof  of  Landais*  guilt  was  manifest, 
and  orders  were  immediately  sent  for  his  arrest  and 
imprisonment.  In  the  meantime  Jones  had  obtained 
from  the  court,  orders  for  a  fine  copper-bottomeC- 
French  ship,  the  Ariel,  to  sail  to  America  in  com 
pany  with  the  Alliance.  He  had  made  all  his 
arrangements  to  spread  his  sails  a  week  after  his 
return  to  L'Orient  from  Paris. 

Franklin  wrote  to  the  mutinous  crew  of  the  Alli- 
ance, expressing  his  surprise  that  they  could  have 
any  confidence  in  one  who  had  behaved  as  they  alj 
knew  Landais  to  have  done.  He  closed  his  lettei 
with  the  following  conciliatory  words : 


1^2  PAUL  JONBa. 

"  For  myself,  I  believe  you  to  be  brivc  men  and 
lovers  of  your  country  and  its  glorious  cause.  And 
I  am  persuaded  that  you  have  only  been  ill  advised 
And  misled  by  the  artful  and  malicious  representa- 
tions of  some  persons  I  guess  at.*  Take  in  good 
part  this  friendly  counsel  from  an  old  man,  who  is 
your  friend.  Go  home  peaceably  with  your  ship. 
Do  your  duty  faithfully  and  cheerfully.  Behave 
respectfully  to  your  commander,  and  I  am  persuaded 
he  will  do  the  same  to  you.  Thus  you  will  not 
only  be  happier  in  your  voyage,  but  will  recommend 
yourselves  to  the  future  favors  of  Congress  and  your 
country." 

To  Commodore  Jones  he  wrote.  "  You  are  liable 
to  have  great  trouble.  I  wish  you  well  through  it. 
You  have  shown  your  abilities  in  fighting.  You  have 
now  the  opportunity  of  showing  the  other  necessary 
part  in  the  character  of  a  great  chief — your  abilities 
In  policy." 

•  H«  doubtless  refers  to  Commissioner  L«8. 


CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Mutiny  of  Landais. 

rhc  Visit  of  Jones  to  Versailles. — Intrigues  of  Landais. — The  Alliaocvt 
Wrested  from  Jones. — Complicity  of  Arthur  Lee. — Magnanimity 
of  Jones. — Strong  Support  of  Dr.  Johnson. — Honors  Conferred 
upon  Jones. — Strange  Career  of  Landais. — His  Life  in  America, 
and  Death. — Continued  Labors  and  Embarrassments  of  Jones. — 
'  His  Correspondence. 

Jones  immediately,  upon  his  arrival  at  L'Oricnt, 
made  preparations  for  his  departure,  with  the  two 
armed  ships,  the  Alliance  and  the  Ariel,  which  were 
to  convoy  several  American  vessels,  with  cargoes 
amounting  to  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  in  value. 
Having  heard  that  his  authority  had  been  called  in 
question,  he,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  of  June, 
mustered  the  crew  of  the  Alliance  on  the  quarter- 
deck,  and  caused  his  commission  from  Congress  to 
be  read  to  them,  together  with  the  order  from  Dr. 
Franklin  for  him  to  take  command  of  the  Alliance, 
and  a  subsequent  order  to  take  her  to  Philadelphia. 
When  he  asked  if  any  of  the  crew  had  any  complaint 
to  make  against  him,  not  one  stepped  forward 
4\r  seemed  to  be  satisfied. 
f 


194  PAUL  JONES. 

Soon  after,  he  went  ashore  to  confer  with  the 
French  authorities  in  reference  to  the  armament  of  the 
Ariel.  Landais  was  on  the  watch.  As  soon  as  Com- 
modore Jones  stepped  ashore,  Captain  Landais  sent 
an  order  to  one  of  his  confederates,  by  the  name  of 
Degges,  who  had  been  first  Heutenant  of  the  AlHancCs 
to  take  command  of  the  ship  until  he  should  receive 
further  orders.  Degges  mustered  the  crew  ;  read  the 
order  to  them,  and  also  the  very  decided  opinion  of 
Commissioner  Lee,  that  Landais  was  the  legal  com- 
mander of  the  AUiance.  The  sailors  were  bewil- 
dered. They  were  in  danger  of  losing  all  their 
prize-money,  and  their  wages  for  several  months  of 
arduous  and  perilous  labor.  Landais  had  made 
them  golden  promises.  The  majority  decided  for 
Landais.  At  that  opportune  moment,  he  came  over 
the  side  of  the  ship  and  took  the  command. 

Lieutenant  Dale  and  the  other  officers  of  the 
Richard,  who  had  come  from  the  S*irapis  on  board 
the  Alliance,  and  who  remained  faithful  tc  Commo- 
dore Jones,  were  thrust  into  boats  and  ser.t  ashore. 
It  is  hardly  just  to  call  this  a  mutinj  on  the  part 
of  the  sailors,  for  they  were  reasonably  in  doubt  as 
to  who  was  the  commander  -they  were  legally  hound 
to  obey. 

Commodore  Jones,  hearing  the  cheers  ot  the 
crew  of  the  Alliance,  hastened  on  board.     He  (o.ff^d 


THE   MUTINY   OF   LANDAIS.  I95 

Landais  parading  up  and  down  the  deck,  flourishing 
his  commission  in  his  hand,  and  haranguing  the 
crew  in  broken  English.  Jones  was  also  unceremo- 
niously  sent  ashore  with  his  officers.  He  hastened 
to  Versailles,  to  inform  the  governmental  authorities 
there  of  what  had  transpired.  On  the  17th  of  June, 
Dr.  Franklin  wrote  to  Commodore  Jones.  He  had 
probably  not  then  been  fully  informed  of  the  very 
serious  character  of  the  events  which  had  taken 
place.     In  this  letter  he  said  : 

"  Having  been  informed  by  several  gentlemen  of 
and  from  L'Orient,  that  it  is  there  generally  under- 
stood the  mutiny  on  board  your  ship  has  been 
advised  or  promoted  by  the  Honorable  Arthur  Lee, 
whom  I  had  ordered  you  to  receive  as  a  passenger, 
I  hereby  withdraw  that  order  so  far  as  to  leave  the 
execution  to  your  direction.  If  from  the  circum- 
stances which  have  come  to  your  knowledge  it 
should  appear  to  you  that  the  peace  and  good  gov- 
ernment of  the  ship,  during  the  voyage,  may  be 
endangered  by  his  presence,  you  may  decline  tak- 
ing that  gentleman  ;  which  I  apprehend  need  not 
obstruct  his  return  to  America,  as  there  are  several 
ships  going  under  your  convoy,  and  no  doubt  many 
of  their  passengers  may  be  prevailed  to  change 
pH'^r?  But  if  yua  juage  tnese  suspicion?  ground 
less  you  will  comply  with  the  order  aforesaid  * 


F96  PAUL  JONES. 

Honorable  Arthur  Lee  was  a  disappointed  and 
Angr>'  man.  He  had  quarrelled  with  his  associates, 
?.nd  was  returning  to  America  in  very  ill  humor. 
The  Allinnce  was  crowded  with  freight  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  the  struggling  colonies.  Mr.  Lee 
Insisted  upon  large  accommodation  for  himself  and 
family,  for  room  for  his  carriage,  and  for  a  vast 
imount  of  baggage.  This  would  have  demanded 
space  which  was  needed  for  transportation  of  the 
roldiers'  clothing.  Commodore  Jones,  with  his  soul 
absorbed  in  devotion  to  the  public  interests,  and 
who  scarcely  allowed  chest-room  for  himself,  objected 
to  the  surrender  of  so  much  space  to  the  commis- 
sioner and  his  family.  This  grievously  offended  Mr. 
Lee,  and  added  to  his  discontent.  Commodore 
Jones  gives  the  following  account  of  the  difficulty  : 

"  I  am  convinced  that  Mr.  Lee  has  acted  in  this 
manner  merely  because  I  would  not  become  the 
enemy  of  the  venerable,  the  wise,  the  good  Franklin, 
whose  heart  as  well  as  head  does,  and  will  always  do, 
honor  to  human  nature.  I  know  the  great  and 
good,  in  this  kingdom,  better  perhaps  than  any 
other  American  who  has  appeared  in  Europe  since 
the  treaty  of  alliance.  And  if  my  testimony  could 
add  anything  to  Frankhn's  reputation,  I  could  wit- 
ness the  universal  veneration  and  esteem  with  which 
his  name   inspires  all  ranks,  not  only  at  Versailles 


THE   MUTINY   OF   LANDAIS.  I97 

tnd  all  ever  this  kingdom,  but  also  in  Spain  and 
Holland.  And  I  can  add  from  the  testimony  of  the 
first  characters  of  other  nations  that,  with  them,  envy 
itself  is  dumb  when  the  name  of  Franklin  is  but 
mentioned." 

Upon  the  day  of  the  mutiny  which  put  Landais 
in  possession  of  the  Alliance,  Paul  Jones  dined  with 
the  French  admiral.  He  was  keenly  sensible  of  the 
disgrace  to  our  nation  should  two  commissioned 
officers,  in  a  foreign  port,  each  perhaps  leading  two 
hundred  men,  have  a  bloody  battle  on  the  deck  of 
one  of  our  war-ships.  Such  an  untoward  event 
would  have  disgraced  our  country,  and  the  holy 
cause  in  which  we  were  engaged,  in  the  eyes  of  all 
Europe.  And  it  would  but  add  to  our  reproach 
that,  in  this  deplorable  conflict,  the  commissioners, 
sent  to  Paris  to  win  France  to  our  cause,  were 
divided,  Mr.  Lee  being  on  the  one  side  and  Dr. 
Franklin  on  the  other. 

The  Alliance  was  in  a  French  port,  and  conse- 
quently under  French  law.  When  the  commission- 
ers were  in  antagonistic  opinion  whether  Jones  of 
Landais  was  the  legal  commander  of  the  ship,  the 
sailors  might  well  be  excused  for  being  also  hon- 
estly divided  in  their  views.  Commodore  Jones,  a 
humane  man,  a  lover  of  peace  and  justice,  could  not 
b«ar  the  thought  of  strewing  the  deck  of  the  ship 


iqi  PAUL  JONES. 

with  the  bloody  corpses  of  these  ignorant  men.  He 
preferred  to  submit  the  question  to  the  arbitration 
of  the  laws,  rather  than  to  brutal  violence. 

Jones  despatched  an  express  to  the  court,  at 
Versailles,  and  immediately  followed  it.  Upon  his 
arrival  he  found,  that  through  the  intervention  of 
Dr.  Franklin^  orders  had  already  been  issued  for  the 
detention  of  the  Alliance,  and  the  arrest  of  Landais. 
Journeying  was  comparatively  slow  in  those  days. 
After  the  absence  of  a  week  Commodore  Jones 
returned.  He  found  that,  during  the  night  preced- 
ing his  arrival,  Landais  had  warped  the  ship  from  the 
inner  to  the  outer  harbor,  which  was  called  Port 
Louis.  There  was  still  a  narrow  entrance  through 
which  the  ship  must  pass  before  it  could  be  out  at 
sea.  A  battery  commanded  that  passage.  A  boat 
was  sent  on  board,  with  an  officer,  to  arrest  Landais 
in  the  king's  name,  and  to  announce  that  the  Alli- 
ance would  be  sunk  should  she  attempt  to  leave  the 
port.  Captain  Landais,  standing  beneath  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  and  surrounded  by  his  men,  refused  to 
surrender  himself 

The  Alliance  had  been  placed  by  Congress  at 
the  disposal  of  Dr.  Franklin.  He,  as  the  representa- 
tive  of  the  Government,  was  to  order  all  her  move- 
ments in  Europe.  This  both  Lee  and  Landaif 
\cnew  perfectly  well.     The  French  officer  now  pre- 


THE   MUTINY   CF  LANDAIS.  lO^, 

•ented  to  Landais  the  positive  orders  of  Dr.  Frank- 
lin to  Landais,  his  officers  and  his  men,  to  surrender 
the   ship  to  the  command   of  Commodore   Jones. 

The  commodore  now  had  the  ship  completely  in 
his  power.  One  or  two  broadsides  from  the  battery 
would  sink  her  and  all  her  crew  in  the  bottom  of 
the  bay.  French  soldiers  were  accustomed  to  obey 
command.  The  guns  were  loaded.  The  gunners 
stood  ready  with  lighted  matches.  At  one  word  of 
command  a  storm  of  balls  would  pierce  the  ship,  and 
all  France  would  receive  another  impressive  lesson 
of  the  peril  involved  in  disobeying  the  orders  of  the 
king.  And  yet  the  madman  Landais,  reckless  of  all 
consequences,  was  firm  in  his  insubordination. 

The  Alliance  was  by  far  the  finest  ship  in  the 
feeble  navy  of  the  colonies.  It  was  freighted  with 
stores  of  inestimable  value  to  our  thinly  clad,  hun- 
gry, ill-provided  soldiers,  struggling  against  the  most 
formidable  military  power  then  upon  the  globe.  A 
large  minority,  probably  a  majority  of  the  sailors 
were  in  favor  of  Commodore  Jones.  Those  who 
adhered  to  Landais  were  assured  by  Commissioner 
Lee  that  they  were  surely  in  the  right,  and  that  if 
they  abandoned  Landais  they  would  be  exposed  to 
be  hung  for  mutiny  against  their  lawful  com 
aiander. 

All  the  sailors  felt  deeply  wronged.     They  could 


JOO  PAUL  JONES. 

not  understand  why  they  received  neither  wages 
nor  prize-money.  They  could  not  know  but  that 
the  malignant  and  artful  representations  of  Landais 
were  true  ;  that  Jones,  with  his  confederate  aristo 
crats  of  the  court,  was  squandering,  in  luxurious  dis- 
sipation, their  hard  earnings.  Under  these  circum- 
stance it  would  have  been  cruel  to  consign  these  poor 
men  to  destruction,  and  our  country  to  so  great  a 
loss.  Commodore  Jones,  forgetting  his  resentment, 
acted  the  part  of  a  magnanimous  man,  for  which 
he  merits  the  highest  commendation. 

He  hastened  to  the  quarters  of  M.  Thevenard,  the 
commandant  of  the  port,  and  by  his  personal  inter- 
position, prevented  him  from  opening  fire  upon  the 
Alliance.     He  wrote  to  Dr.  Franklin  : 

'*  Thevenard  had  received  orders  to  fire  on  the 
Alliance  and  sink  her  to  the  bottom,  if  they  at- 
tempted to  approach  aiKi  pass  the  barrier  that  had 
been  made  across  the  entrance  to  the  port.  Had  I 
even  remained  silent  an  hour  the  dreadful  work 
would  have  been  done.  Your  humanity  will,  I  know, 
justify  the  part  I  acted,  in  preventing  a  scene  that 
would  have  rendered  me  miserable  for  the  rest  oi 
my  life.  Yesterday  the  within  letter  was  brought 
me  from  Mr.  Lee.  He  has  pulled  off  the  mask,  and 
I  am  convinced  is  not  a  little  disappointed  that  his 


THE   MUTINY   OF   ULNDAI?  201 

Operations  have  produced  no  bloodshed  between  the 
subjects  of  France  and  America.     Poor  man  !  " 

The  commandant  of  the  port  called  all  his  officers 
together,  and  they  signed  a  paper,  minutely  stating 
the  preparations  they  had  made  to  render  the  depar- 
ture of  the  Alliance  impossible,  and  their  great 
admiration  of  the  magnanimity  of  Commodore  Jones 
in  causing  their  operations  to  be  suspended. 

Landais,  unopposed,  warped  his  ship  through  the 
mouth  of  the  harbor  and  cast  anchor  in  the  roadstead 
of  Groix.  We  must  now  take  leave  of  Landais,  with 
but  a  brief  record  of  his  subsequent  career. 

Pierre  Landais  was  the  youngest  son  of  one  of 
the  proudest  and,  in  rank,  one  of  the  most  illustrious 
families  in  Normandy.  Their  ancestral  estates  had 
gradually  passed  away,  and  the  family  had  become 
impoverished,  but  not  the  less  proud.  Pierre  en- 
tered the  Naval  School,  and  was  thoroughly  instruct- 
ed in  the  theory  both  of  building  and  navigating  a 
ship.  He,  however,  found  it  difficult  to  get  a  com- 
mission so  as  to  put  his  knowledge  into  practice. 
He  had  neither  money,  nor  interest  at  court,  with 
which  to  purchase  court  favor. 

He  was  thus  kept  a  mere  midshipman  until  he 
was  thirty-two  years  of  age.  Then  for  many  years 
he  remained  in  the  humble  situation  of  a  sub-lieu- 
tenant.    He  was  serving  in   this  capacity,  greatly 


802  PAl>L  JONES. 

discontented  with  his  lot,  when  the  war  broke  out 
between  England  and  her  American  colonies.  Lan- 
dais  then  came  to  this  country  in  command  of  a 
French  merchant-ship  laden  with  public  stores.  He 
was  a  man  of  much  address  and  of  boundless  assu- 
rance. According  to  his  representation  he  enjoyed 
the  rank  of  captain  in  the  royal  navy ;  had  com- 
manded a  ship  of  the  line  ;  had  been  chief  officer  of 
the  naval  depot  at  the  port  of  Brest,  and  could  have 
commanded  any  advancement  he  desired  in  his  own 
country. 

But  he  said  that  his  love  for  freedom  was  such, 
and  such  his  admiration  of  the  heroism  of  the  Amer- 
icans in  drawing  the  sword  in  defence  of  popular 
rights,  against  such  a  gigantic  power  as  that  of 
Great  Britain,  that  he  had  declined  receiving  the 
Cross  of  St.  Louis,  and  had  abjured  the  Roman 
Catholic  religion,  the  religion  of  his  forefathers,  that 
he  might,  with  all  his  energies,  enter  into  the  service 
of  America. 

BeUeving  all  this,  and  wishing,  as  we  have  said,  to 
compliment  France,  Congress  placed  its  finest  frigate 
?n  the  hands  of  Landais.  The  result,  until  the  time 
fvrhen  the  Alliance  left  L'Orient,  the  reader  knows. 

The  Alliance,  with  Mr.  Lee  on  board,  at  length 
reached  Philadelphia.  The  conduct  of  Landais^ 
who3e  title  to  command  his  own  men  doubted,  was  se 


THE   MUTINY  OF  LANDAIS.  ^^ 

Insane  that  the  officers,  passengers  and  crew  aU 
became  incensed.  Mr.  Lee  was  prominent  in  this 
movement  The  ship  was  committed  to  the  ofBcer 
next  in  rank.  A  court  of  inquiry  was  held,  in  which 
Mr.  Lee  testified  strongly  against  the  captain  as 
insane.  The  charge  was  so  fully  sustained  that  he 
was  dismissed  from  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
It  was  not  deemed  expedient  to  waste  time  by 
prosecuting  the  more  serious  charges  against  him. 
He  was  consequently  consigned  to  insignificance 
Thus  thrown  out  of  service,  Landais  took  up  his 
residence  in  the  city  of  New  York.  Destitute  of 
funds,  he  was  miserably  poor,  living,  one  can  hardly 
tell  how,  upon  an  income  of  but  two  hundred  dollars 
a  year.  Still  he  retained  all  his  ancient  pride,  main- 
taining the  air  of  a  gentleman,  and  refusing  any 
assistance  which  could  indicate  that  he  was  in 
want. 

He  contrived,  at  every  session  of  Congress, 
whether  at  Philadelphia  or  Washington,  to  make  his 
appearance,  and  to  urge  a  memorial  expressive  of  the 
injustice  which  he  thought  had  been  done  him,  and 
demanding  restitution  to  his  rank  and  the  arrears  of 
pay.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time  he  was  reduced 
almost  to  nothing,  when  an  unexpected  division  of 
some  prize-money  gave  him  an  annuity  of  ore  hun- 
dred and  five  dollars.      With  true  French  hilarity  he 


204  PAUL  JONES. 

said,  "  I  have  now  two  dollars  a  week  on  which  t<» 
live,  and  an  odd  dollar  for  charity  at  the  end  of  the 
year." 

To  the  last  he  kept  up  the  exterior  and  the 
courtly  bearing  of  a  gentleman.  All  that  was 
visible  of  his  linen  was  ever  spotlessly  clean.  His 
thread-bare  coat  was  brushed  with  the  utmost  neat- 
ness. On  ceremonious  occasions,  or  when  making  a 
call,  he  wore  conspicuously  a  pair  of  paste  knee 
buckles,  yellow  silk  stockings,  carefully  preserved, 
though  much  faded,  and  which  were  adorned  with 
what  were  then  called  red  clocks. 

Claiming  to  be  an  officer  in  the  United  States 
Navy,  unjustly  deprived  of  command,  he  ever  wore 
upon  his  hat  the  American  cockade.  On  the  Fourth 
of  July,  and  on  the  day  which  commemorated  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  of  New  York  by  the  British 
troops,  Landais,  who  had  assumed  the  title  of 
admiral,  invariably  dressed  himself  in  his  old  Conti- 
nental uniform.  The  large  brass  buttons,  though 
they  had  lost  their  brilliance,  attracted  attention. 
The  long  skirts  of  his  blue  coat  reached  almost  tc 
his  heels,  enveloping  his  thin,  shrivelled  form.  Tiic 
sleeves  seemed  to  have  shrunken,  for  they  scarctl> 
came  to  his  wrists.  He  thus  paraded  the  streets, 
with  all  the  airs  oi  a  nobleman  of  the  ancient 
regime. 


THE   MUTINY   OF   LANDAIS.  20^ 

His  spirit  of  independence  was  such  that  he 
refused  all  presents,  even  the  most  trifling.  A  gen- 
tleman, on  one  occasion,  sent  him  a  dozen  bottles 
of  Newark  cider.  He  returned  them  because  it  was 
not  in  his  power  to  reciprocate. 

He  became,  with  advancing  years,  very  irritable 
in  temper.  In  one  of  the  debates  in  Congress  in 
reference  to  his  claims,  a  member  spoke,  as  he 
thought,  disrespectfully  of  him.  He  dressed  him- 
self in  his  uniform,  belted  a  small  sword  at  his  side 
and  repairing  to  the  gallery  of  the  House,  announced 
to  all  the  acquaintances  he  met,  that  he  was  pre 
pared  to  fight  a  duel  with  any  gentleman  who  might 
give  him  occasion  to  do  so.  **  If  there  is  any  bad 
blood  in  Congress,"  said  he,  **  I  am  prepared  to  draw- 
it."  He  always  affirmed  that  he,  and  not  Jones, 
captured  the  Serapis.  The  ship,  he  said,  was  com- 
pelled to  surrender  because  he  raked  her  with  the 
guns  of  the  Alliance. 

Thus  this  strange  man  hved  for  forty  years,  until 
he  had  attained  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  He  died, 
or,  to  use  his  own  language,  disappeared  from  this 
life,  in  the  summer  of  i8l8.  As  he  was  buried  in  the 
church-yard  of  St.  Patrick's  Cathedral  it  is  probable 
that  he  had  returned  to  the  Roman  Catholic  faith. 
Some    unknown  friend   raised  a  plain  marble   slab 


2C6  PAUL   J0?;ES. 

over   his    remains    with   the   inscription,  bene&th  a 
cross . 

A  la  Memoire 

de 

Pierre  de  Landais, 

Ancien  Contre-Amiral 

au  service 

Des  Etats-Unis. 

Qui  Disparut. 

Juin  i8i8. 
Age,  8'/  years. 

Let  US  now  return  to  Paul  Jones.  There  were  five 
hundred  tons  of  public  stores  still  at  L'Orient  to  be 
shipped  to  the  United  States.  The  Ariel,  which  was 
in  port  preparing  to  sail,  could  afford  additional  room 
for  but  about  one  hundred  tons.  There  were  thus 
four  hundred  tons  to  be  provided  for.  The  Serapis, 
which  Paul  Jones  had  so  heroically  captured,  was  one 
of  the  finest  and  most  strongly  built  war-ships  in  the 
British  navy.  The  king  had  just  purchased  the  prize 
for  a  sum  amounting  to  about  forty  thousand  dollars- 
As  France  was  certainly  indebted  to  an  American 
commodore  for  his  valuable  prize,  and  as  France 
was  in  alliance  with  America,  and  as  the  cause  of  the 
two  countries  was,  in  some  respects,  a  common 
cause,  France  wishing  to  resist  the  intolerable  tyr- 
anny of  England  on  the  seas,  Jones  made  the  very 
reasonable  suggestion  to  Dr.  Franklin,  that  he  should 
abtain  the  loan   of  the  Serapis,  to   accompany  thr 


THE   MUTINY'   OF  LANDAIS.  307 

Ariel  in  conveying  these  stores  across  the  Atlantic 
Upon  their  arrival  in  America,  the  two  ships,  as  he 
thought,  might  inflict  very  serious  damage  on  the 
common  enemy.  Franklin,  deserted  by  his  col- 
league Lee,  mortified  by  the  flight  of  Landais  with 
the  Alliance,  and  embarrassed  for  want  of  money, 
was  in  a  state  of  great  perplexity.  Through  irregu- 
larity of  the  mails  he  had  not  received  Commodore 
Jones's  letter  of  the  21st  of  June,  giving  him  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  departure  of  the  Alliance.  He  had, 
however,  received  his  letter  of  the  27th,  proposing 
the  loan  of  the  Serapis.  Philosopher  as  he  was,  he 
could  not  conceal  the  perplexities  which  annoyed 
him.     He  wrote  . 

"  I  only  knew,  by  other  means,  that  the  Alliance 
IS  gone  out  of  the  port ;  and  that  you  are  not  likely 
to  recover,  and  have  relinquished  the  command  of 
her.  So  that  affair  is  over.  And  now  the  business 
is,  to  get  the  goods  out  as  well  as  we  can.  I  am  per- 
fectly bewildered  with  the  different  schemes  that 
have  been  proposed  to  me  for  this  purpose.  Mr. 
Williams  was  for  purchasing  ships.  I  told  him  I  had 
not  the  money  ;  but  he  still  urges  it.  You  and  Mr. 
Ross  proposed  borrowing  the  Ariel.  I  joined  in  the 
application  for  that  ship.  We  obtained  her.  She 
was  to  convey  all  that  the  Alliance  could  not  take. 

"  Now  you  find  her  insufficient.     An  additional 


308  PAUL  JONES. 

ship  has  already  been  asked  and  could  not  be  ob 
tained.  I  think  therefore  that  it  will  be  best  that 
you  take  as  much  into  the  Ariel  as  you  can,  and  de- 
part with  it.  For  the  rest  I  must  apply  to  the  gov- 
ernment to  contrive  some  means  of  transporting  it 
in  their  own  ships.  This  is  my  present  opinion. 
When  I  have  once  got  rid  of  this  business,  no  con- 
sideration shall  tempt  me  to  meddle  again  with  such 
matters,  as  I  never  understood  them." 

The  stores  which  were  ready  to  be  transported 
to  America,  amounted  in  value  to  about  four  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars.  It  was  needful  that  immedi- 
ate and  vigorous  measures  should  be  taken  to  send 
them  on  their  way.  Commodore  Jones,  on  the  27th 
of  June,  wrote,  as  in  duty  bound,  to  the  Honorable 
Robert  Morris,  giving  him  a  very  unimpassioned  and 
truthful  account  of  the  untoward  events  which  had 
occurred.  He  closed  this  admirable  letter  with  the 
following  words : 

"  I  cannot  see  where  all  this  will  end.  But  surely 
it  must  fall  dreadfully  on  the  heads  of  those  who 
have  stirred  up  this  causeless  mutiny.  For  my 
own  part  I  shall  make  no  other  remark  than  that  I 
have  never  directly  or  indirectly  sought  after  the 
command  of  the  Alliance.  But  after  having,  in 
obedience  to  orders,  commanded  her  for  seven 
months,   and    after    Mr.    Lee   had    made  a  writter 


THE   MUTINY    OF   LANDAIS.  -JOQ 

application  to  me,  as  commander  of  that  ship,  for  a 
passage  to  America,  I  am  at  a  loss  what  name  to 
give  to  Mr.  Lee*s  late  conduct  and  duplicity  in  stir- 
ring up  a  mutiny  in  favor  of  a  man  who  was  first 
sent  to  America,  contrary  to  Mr.  Lee's  opinion,  by 
Ml.  Deane,  and  who  is  actually  under  arrest  by 
order  of  his  sovereign. 

"  What  gives  me  the  greatest  pain  is,  that  after  I 
had  obtained  from  government  the  means  of  tran- 
sporting to  America,  under  good  protection,  the 
arms  and  clothing  I  have  already  mentioned,  Mr. 
Lee  should  have  found  means  to  defeat  my  inten- 
tions. You  will  bear  me  witness,  my  worthy  friend, 
that  I  never  asked  a  favor  for  myself  from  Congress. 
You  have  seen  all  my  letters,  and  know  that  I  never 
sought  any  indirect  influence  ;  though  my  ambition 
to  act  an  eminent  and  useful  part  in  this  glorious 
revolution  is  unbounded. 

"  I  pledge  myself  to  you  and  to  America  that 
my  zeal  receives  new  ardor  from  the  opposition  it 
meets  with  ;  and  I  live  but  to  overcome  them,  and 
to  prove  myself  no  mock  patriot,  but  a  true  friend  to 
the  rights  of  human  nature  upon  principles  of  dis- 
interested philanthropy.  Of  this  I  have  given  some 
proofs,  and  I  will  give  more.  Let  not,  therefore, 
the  virtuous  Senate  of  America  he  misled  by  the 
insinuations   of  fallen   ambition.     Should  anything 


210  PAUL  JONES. 

be  said  to  my  disadvantage,  all  I  ask  is  a  suspensioi^ 
of  judgment  until  I  can  appear  before  Congress  tJ 
answer  for  myself." 

The  next  day  after  Commodore  Jones  had  written 
this  letter,  on  the  28th  of  June,  a  letter  was  de 
spatched  to  him,  from  Monsieur  de  Sartines,  the 
French  minister,  dated  at  Versailles.     He  wrote  : 

"  The  king,  sir,  has  already  made  known  hi* 
satisfaction  with  the  zeal  and  valor  which  you  have 
displayed  in  Europe,  in  support  of  the  common 
cause  of  the  United  States  of  America  and  his 
majesty  ;  and  he  has  also  informed  you  of  the  dis- 
tinguished proofs  he  is  disposed  to  give  you  thereof. 
Persuaded  that  the  United  States  will  give  their 
consent  that  you  should  receive  the  Cross  of  the 
Order  of  Military  Merit,  I  send  you,  in  the  accom- 
panying packet  addressed  to  M.  de  Luzerne,  the  one 
designed  for  you.  You  will  be  pleased  to  deliver 
him  this  packet,  and  he  will  see  that  the  honor  is 
conferred  by  a  knight  of  the  order  agreeably  to  his 
majesty's  orders." 

Before  the  Alliance  sailed,  the  trunks  of  Commo- 
dore Jones  which  were  on  board  that  ship  were  broken 
open,  robbed  of  their  most  valuable  contents,  and 
sent  on  shore.  Those  who  openly  adhered  to  Jrnes, 
refusing  to  obey  Landais,  were  confined  and  «.arried 
away  in  irons.     Almost  inumerable  obstacles  aro.s€ 


THE  MUTINY   OF   LANDAIS.  311 

to  delay  the  sailing  of  the  Ariel  and  the  other  vessels 
needed  to  transport  the  stores.  Never  did  a  man 
consecrate  himself  more  entirely  to  the  promotion 
of  the  public  interests,  to  the  neglect  of  all  selfish 
considerations,  than  did  Paul  Jones  during  the 
months  of  June  and  July.  A  detailed  account  of 
his  difficulties  and  disappointments  would  but  weary 
the  reader.  His  soul  was  almost  consumed  with  the 
desire  to  strike  the  haughty  enemy  blows  which  he 
would  feel.  He  was  willing  to  go  back  to  America, 
animated  by  the  hope  that  the  government,  hearing 
of  what  he  had  already  achieved,  would  place  such  a 
force  at  his  command  as  to  enable  him  to  do  some- 
thing effectual  toward  the  emancipation  of  America 
from  British  thraldom  On  the  2d  of  August,  just 
before  he  was  ready  to  sail,  he  wrote  to  the  Count 
of  Vergennes.  After  expressing  his  gratitude  for  the 
favors  he  had  received  from  the  French  court,  and 
his  intense  desire  for  active  employment,  he  added : 
"  It  is  absolutely  necessary,  my  lord,  to  destroy 
the  foreign  commerce  of  the  English,  especially  their 
trade  to  the  Baltic,  from  whence  they  draw  all  the 
supplies  for  their  marine.  It  is  equally  necessary  to 
alarm  their  coasts,  not  only  in  the  colonies  abroad, 
but  even  in  their  islands  at  home.  These  things 
would  distress  and  distract  the  enemy  much  morf 
than  many  battles  between  fleets  of  equal  fore** 


^12  PAUL  JONES. 

''  England  has  carried  on  the  war  against  America 
in  a  far  more  barbarous  form  than  she  durst  have 
adopted  against  any  power  of  Europe.  America 
has  the  right  to  retahate ;  and,  by  our  having  the 
same  language  and  customs  with  the  enemy  wo  arc 
in  a  situation  to  surprise  their  coast  and  take  such 
advantage  of  their  unguarded  situation,  under  the 
fiag  of  America,  as  can  liever  be  done  under  the  flag 
of  France.  This  is  not  theory,  for  I  have  proved  it 
by  my  experience.  And  if  I  have  opportunity  I  will 
yet  prove  it  more  fully." 

Still  there  were  the  most  annoying  delays.  Noth- 
ine  in  this  world  can  be  more  difficult  than  to  fit 
out  a  military  expedition  without  money  and  with- 
out credit.  The  Ariel  sailed  out  of  the  harbor  and 
cast  anchor  in  the  road  of  Groix.  Commodore  Jones 
received  during  this  time  many  flattering  letters  from, 
admiring  ladies  of  the  French  court.  But  his  en- 
gagements were  so  pressing  that  he  found  but  little 
time  to  reply  to  them.  His  instinctive  sense  of 
courtesy  was  such  that  this  apparent  neglect  some- 
times quite  seriously  annoyed  him.  To  one  lady  he 
wrote  • 

"  When  one  is  conscious  of  having  been  in  fault, 
I  believe  it  is  the  best  way  to  confess  it  and  to  prom- 
ise amendment.  This  being  my  case  in  respect  to 
you   madam,  I  am  too  honest  to  attempt  to  excuse 


THE  MUTINY  OF  L.\NDAr>.  21 3 

myself;  and  therefore  cast  myself  at  yojr  feet  and 
beg  your  forgiveness,  on  condition  that  I  behave 
better  hereafter.  For  shame,  Paul  Jones !  How 
could  you  let  the  fairest  lady  in  the  world,  after  writ- 
ing you  two  letters,  wait  so  long  for  an  answer. 
Are  you  so  much  devoted  to  war  as  to  neglect  wit 
and  beauty?  I  make  myself  a  thousand  such 
reproaches,  and  believe  I  punish  myself  as  severely 
as  you  would  do,  madam,  were  you  present  here." 

Again  he  wrote  to  a  noble  lady,  Madame  L'Or- 
moy :  "  My  particular  thanks  are  due  you,  madam, 
for  the  personal  proofs  I  have  received  of  ycur  esteem 
and  friendship,  and  for  the  happiness  you  procured 
me  in  the  society  of  the  charming  counte.'is  and 
other  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  your  circle.  But  I 
have  a  favor  to  ask  of  you,  madam,  which  I  hope 
you  will  grant  me.  You  tell  me,  in  your  letter,  that 
the  inkstand  I  had  the  honor  to  present  you  as  a 
small  token  of  my  esteem,  shall  be  reserved  for  the 
purpose  of  writing  what  concerns  me.  Now  I  wish 
you  to  see  my  idea  in  a  more  expanded  light,  and 
would  have  you  make  use  of  that  inkstand  to  instrud 
mankind,  and  s  ipport  the  dignity  and  rights  oi 
human  nature.' 


CHAPTER  X. 

The  Return  to  America. 

Fitting  the  Ariel. — Painful  Delays. — The  Sailing. — Terrible  Tc^a 
pest.— The  Disabled  Ship.  — Puts  back  to  L'Orient.— The  Sec- 
ond Departure. — Meets  the  Triumph. — Bloody  Naval  Battlx— 
Perfidious  Escape  of  the  Triumph. — The  Ariel  Reaches  America 
— Honors  Lavished  upon  Jones. — Appointed  to  Build  and 
Command  the  America. — Great  Skill  Displayed. — The  Ship 
given  to  France. — The  Launch, 

Tardily  the  French  government  had  ordered 
the  Ariel  to  be  fully  armed  and  equipped.  Com- 
modore Jones  crowded  the  ship  to  its  utmost  pos- 
sible  capacity.  Such  a  quanity  of  powder,  arms,  and 
other  stores  were  taken  on  board,  that  he  had  room 
for  provisions  for  only  nine  weeks.  The  commodore 
had  hoped  to  have  left  port  at  an  earUer  period,  and 
at  a  more  favorable  season  of  the  year.  He  was 
not  able  to  weigh  anchor  and  to  spread  his  sails,  for 
his  adventurous  voyage,  until  the  8th  of  October. 
He  then  sailed,  with  a  fair  wind  and  with  promise 
of  pleasant  weather. 

But  the  very  next  night  a  terrible  tempest  arose 
In   the   midst  of  midnight  darkness,  with   howling 


THE   RETURN  TO   AMERICA.  215 

winds  and  dashing  waves,  the  Ariel  barely  escaped 
being  wrecked  on  the  rocks  of  Penmarque,  a  ledge 
which  was  the  terror  of  all  seamen,  between  L'Orient 
and  Brest.     The  gale  was  so  severe  that  the  lower 
yard-arms  were  frequently  plunged  into  the  water. 
The  peril  was  so  great  that  it  was  necessary  to  cut 
away  the  fore-mast.    This  seemed  in  some  degree  to 
relieve  the  ship  from  the  terrible  strain,  so  that  her 
head  was  brought  to  the  wind.     But  in  the  terrible 
plungings  of  the  heavily  laden  ship  over  the  billows, 
the  main-mast  had  got  out  of  the  step,  and  reeled  to 
and  fro  in  the  most  threatening  manner.     The  dan- 
ger was  imminent  that  the  mast  would  either  break 
off  below  the  gun-deck,  or  that  it  would  crush  its 
way  through  the  bottom  of  the  ship.     Commodore 
Jones  gave  orders  for  the  main-mast  to  be  cut  away. 
But  before  this  could  be  done  the  chain  plates  parted, 
and  the  main-mast,  breaking  off  at  the  gun-deck,  fell 
with  a  terrible   crash,  carrying  with  it  the  mizzen- 
mast,  and  the  quarter-gallery.     In  that  deplorable 
situation,  the  Ariel,  rolling  like  a  log  upon  the  tern- 
pest-lashed  sea,  by  rare  good  luck  floated  in  midnight 
darkness,  to  the   windward    of  the   ledge  generally 
deemed  the  most  dangerous  in  the  world. 

For  two  days  and  three  nights  this  autumnal 
storm  raged,  covering  the  shore  with  wrecks,  and 
with  the    bodies   of   the   drowned.     Even   in    the 


3l6  PAUL  JONES. 

port  of  L'Oriei.t  many  ships  were  torn  from  theii 
anchorage,  and  were  dashed  on  the  shore.  Probably 
nothing  saved  the  Ariel  but  the  loss  of  her  masts. 
Had  they  remained  standing,  to  receive  the  force  of 
the  gale,  no  anchor  could  have  held  her  from  being 
thrown  upon  the  rocks.  Jury-masts  were  rigged, 
and  the  shattered  Ariel,  after  the  gale,  was  taken 
back  to  L'Orient.  On  the  i6th,  he  wrote  to  Lady 
D'Ormoy,  in  reply  to  a  letter  from  her.  In  this 
communication,  he  said : 

"  I  have  returned  without  laurels,  and,  what  is 
worse,  without  being  able  to  render  service  to  the 
glorious  cause  of  liberty.  I  know  not  why  Neptune 
was  in  such  anger,  unless  he  thought  it  an  affront  in 
me  to  appear  on  his  ocean,  with  so  insignificant  a 
force.  It  is  certain  that  till  the  night  of  the  8th,  I 
did  not  fully  conceive  the  awful  majesty  of  tempest 
and  of  shipwreck.  I  can  give  you  no  just  idea  of 
the  tremendous  scene  that  nature  then  presented, 
which  surpassed  the  reach  even  of  poetic  fancy  and 
the  pencil.  I  believe  no  ship  was  ever  before  saved 
from  an  equal  danger  off  the  point  of  the  Penmarque 
rocks. 

"  I  am  extremely  sorry  that  the  young  English 
\^dy  you  mention  should  have  imbibed  the  national 
hatred  against  me.  I  have  had  proofs  that  many 
of  the  first  and    finest  ladies  of  that  nation  are  wy 


THE  RETURN  TO  AMERICA.  217 

friends.  Indeed  I  cannot  imagine  why  any  fair  lady 
should  be  my  enemy,  since,  upon  the  large  scale  of 
universal  philanthropy  I  feel,  acknowledge,  and  bend 
before  the  sovereign  power  of  beauty.  The  Eng- 
lish nation  may  hate  me,  but  I  will  force  them  to 
esteem  me  too." 

Jones  was  exceedingly  distressed  that  his  sailors 
had  not  received  one  single  dollar  of  prize  money. 
They  blamed  him,  and  he  could  not  make  it  clear  to 
their  impassioned  minds  that  he  was  not  to  blame. 
The  prizes,  which  had  been  sent  into  the  French 
ports,  had  now  been  sold.  But  legal  technicalities 
seemed  to  render  it  necessary  that  the  money  should 
be  paid  in  America.  Even  Dr.  Franklin  could  not 
deny  that  such  was  the  proper  interpretation  of  the 
statute.  The  money  was  consequently  remitted  to 
the  French  minister,  M.  Chaumont,  to  be  forwarded 
to  this  country.  Commodore  Jones  wrote  pleadingly 
in  behalf  of  the  suffering  sailors. 

"  By  virtue  of  the  authority  I  had  received  from 
the  government,"  he  wrote,  ''  my  honor  was  pledged 
to  see  these  men  justly  paid.  I  have  already  suf- 
fered  many  reflections  on  their  account.  I  beseech 
your  excellency  to  order  them  immediate  payment." 

The  spirit  of  Dr.  Franklin  was  in  a  state  of  great 
perturbation  in  view  of  these  wrongs,  which  seemed 
to  paralyxe  all  the  sinews  of  action.     Fiom  a  i^k^< 

tJO 


2lS  PAUL  JONES. 

bed,  upon  which  it  is  not  improbable  that  trouble 
had  thrown  him,  he  wrote  to  the  Court,  strongly 
soliciting,  under  the  circumstances,  the  payment  of 
the  money.  It  was  not  until  the  i8th  of  December 
that  the  shattered,  heavily  laden  Ariel  was  again 
prepared  for  sea.     In  his  journal,  Jones  writes  : 

"  On  this  day  I  bade  adieu  to  the  beloved  nation 
of  France ;  where,  though  I  have  met  with  some 
difficulties,  I  have  many  reasons  to  be  satisfied.  I 
am  charmed  with  the  courteous  behavior  that  so 
nobly  marked  the  character  of  that  generous  minded 
people." 

As  he  had  important  despatches  on  board,  which 
he  was  directed  to  sink  rather  than  allow  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  as  the  cargo  he  carried 
was  of  inestimable  value  to  the  colonies,  he  resolved 
to  seek  no  prizes,  but  to  cross  the  ocean  as  rapidly 
as  possible,  by  an  unfrequented  track,  taking  the 
southern  passage  along  the  edge  of  the  trade  winds. 

After  being  out  several  days  he  found  himself 
far  south,  in  the  latitude  of  Barbadoes.  In  a  dis- 
tance a  ship  hove  in  sight.  There  could  be  but  lit- 
tle doubt  that  it  was  an  English  ship.  After  care^ 
fully  examining  it  with  his  glass  he  saw  that  it  waa 
a  fast-sailing,  well-armed  English  frigate.  The  Ariel 
was  not  in  a  condition  to  give  battle  to  such  an 
ODponent.     He  hoped,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night 


THE   RETURN   TO   AMERICA.  SI$ 

CO  escape.  He  therefore  changed  his  couise  and 
spread  every  sail.  In  the  morning  he  found,  much 
to  his  disappointment,  that  the  frigate  was  stiii 
nearer  to  him  than  the  evening  before. 

An  action  was  now  unavoidable.  The  frigate 
would  surely  board  him,  and,  by  examining  hii 
papers,  find  out  who  he  was  and  where  he  was  bound. 
Immediately  the  most  vigorous  measures  were 
adopted  to  prepare  for  action.  Il  is  probable  that 
Commodore  Jones  had  resolved  never,  under  what- 
ever circumstances,  to  surrender  to  the  British  flag 
Everything  was  thrown  overboard  which  could  in- 
terfere with  the  efficiency  of  the  defence.  The  sails 
and  helm  were  so  managed,  and  other  precautions 
adopted,  as  to  conceal,  as  far  as  possible,  the  force  of 
the  Ariel.  He  assumed  the  character  of  a  merchant- 
ship  lightly  armed. 

The  chase  soon  became  very  eager.  As  soon  as 
the  frigate  came  within  gun-shot  of  the  Ariel,  Jones 
opened  fire  from  his  quarter-deck,  with  his  stern 
chasers.  The  wind  became  very  light,  so  that  hour 
after  hour,  on  these  mild  tropical  seas,  the  pursued 
and  the  pursuer  glided  along,  without  the  distance 
between  them  being  sensibly  diminished. 

As  night  approached  the  frigate  came  within 
hailing  distance  of  the  Ariel.  Jones,  as  he  examined 
h&r  armament,  was  well  pleased  to  find  that  he  had 


I20  P/VQL   JONES. 

k  force  to  contend  with  not  much  sjperior  to  hia 
own.  He  immediately  raised  the  English  flag,  and 
quite  a  conversation  took  place  between  the  com- 
manders of  the  two  ships.  Jones  learned  that  the 
frigate  was  called  the  Triumph,  under  command  of 
Captain  John  Pindar.  Assuming  that  the  Ariel  wa:: 
an  English  ship  conveying  stores  to  the  British 
army  in  America,  he  obtained  very  important  infor- 
mation, in  reference  to  the  position  of  the  English 
squadron  on  the  coast. 

At  length  Jones  pretended  not  to  believe  Cap 
tain  Pindar,  that  his  ship  belonged  to  the  British 
navy.  He  therefore  ordered  the  captain  to  come 
on  board  the  Ariel  and  show  his  commission.  Pin- 
dar probably  at  this  time  had  his  suspicions  excited. 
He  declined  upon  the  excuse  that  his  boats  leaked, 
and  that  he  had  not  yet  learned  the  name  of  the  fri- 
gate before  him,  or  of  her  commander.  Jones  replied : 

"  I  have  no  account  to  render  to  you.  You  can 
have  five  minutes  to  decide  whether  you  will  come 
on  board  of  me  or  not." 

Jones  held  his  watch  in  his  hand.  The  frigate,' 
were  lying  nearly  abreast  and  within  thirty  feet  of 
each  other.  The  tops  of  both  vessels  were  filled  with 
sharp-shooters,  and  the  gunners,  with  lighted  matches, 
stood  at  the  batteries.  The  moment  the  five  min- 
Jtes  had  elapsed,  Jones  ran  up  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 


THE   RETURN   TO   AMERICA.  221 

and  hurled  a  full  broadside,  v/ithJn  pistol-shot  into 
the  Triumph.  It  was  then  past  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening.  Daylight  had  completely  faded  away. 
Starlight  and  the  flash  of  the  guns  alone  lighted  the 
combatants  in  their  dreadful  conflict.  The  crew  of 
the  Ariel  was  inspired  with  the  indomitable  energies 
of  its  commander. 

The  Triumph  instantly  returned  the  fire  of  the 
Ariel.  It  is  said  that  the  vigorous  and  regular  fire, 
from  the  top  and  batteries  of  the  Ariel,  had  never 
been  exceeded.  Such  a  conflict  could  by  no  possi- 
bility last  long.  The  flash  and  the  roar  of  this  tem 
pest  of  war  were  incessant.  Every  bolt  was  death 
dealing.  The  massive  irons  balls  tore  through  and 
splintered  the  oaken  timbers,  smashed  gun  carriages, 
tumbled  about  the  massive  ordnance,  and  strewed 
the  decks  with  lifeless  bodies  and  dismembered  limbs 
There  was  not  one  moment's  intermission.  Blow 
followed  blow  instantaneously.  Amidst  darkness 
and  sulphurous  smoke,  and  the  angry  gleam  of  the 
flashing  guns,  there  were  ghastly  wounds,  and  gush- 
ing blood,  and  death — misery  and  inconceivably 
awful  ruin.  It  was  one  of  those  scenes  in  this  lost 
world,  which  has  led  many  to  inquire,  **  Can  hell 
exceed  this  ?  " 

Ten  minutes  of  this  horrible  carnage  settled  ths 
question.     Pindar  struck  his  colors  and  cried  out  fof 


232  PAUL  JOInES. 

quarter,  saying  that  one  half  of  his  men  A'cre  killed 
Instantly  the  Ariel  stopped  fire.  The  men,  aban- 
doning the  batteries  and  running  down  from  the 
tops,  clustered  on  the  deck,  and  gave  three  cheers 
In  token  of  their  victory.  When  a  ship  thus  sur- 
renders, and  calls  for  and  accepts  quarter,  she  is 
considered  as  a  prisoner  of  war  is  considered,  who 
has  given  his  word  of  honor  not  to  attempt  to  escape. 
With  a  few  more  broadsides  Jones  might  have  sunk 
the  Triumph,  which  was  preying  upon  American 
commerce.  And  it  was  his  duty  to  have  done  this, 
rather  than  allow  her  to  escape. 

But  relying  upon  the  honor  of  the  English  com- 
mander, he  accepted  the  unconditional  surrender. 
The  Triumph  was  not  injured  in  her  sails  or  rigging. 
In  the  confusion  of  the  moment,  when  the  dead  cov- 
ered the  decks  and  the  wounded  were  being  hurried 
below  to  the  care  of  the  surgeon,  and  the  guns  of  the 
Ariel  were  abandoned,  the  treacherous  captain,  watch- 
ing his  opportunity,  suddenly  spread  every  sail,  and 
commenced  running  away  with  all  speed.  Jones  was 
astonished  at  this  perfidy.  He  immediately  spread 
every  sail  in  pursuit.  But  the  Triumph  was  much 
the  swiftest  sailor,  and  soon  got  out  of  gun-shot,  and 
disappeared  in  the  darkness.  1 1  the  account  whicn 
Commodore  Jones  gives  of  this  conflict,  in  the  jour 
aal  which  he  sent  to  the  king  of  France,  he  wrote  ■ 


TflE  RETURN    TO  AMERICA.  leS^ 

**  In  a  minute  I  ordered  the  firing  to  cease.  And 
dicre  were  several  huzzahs  on  board  the  Ariel,  as  la 
usual  after  a  victory.  But  a  minute  afterwards  the 
captain  of  the  Triumph  had  the  baseness  to  fill  his 
sails  and  run  away.  It  was  not  in  my  power  to  pre- 
vent this,  the  Triumph  sailing  much  faster  than  the 
Ariel.  But  if  the  British  government  had  that  feel- 
ing of  honor  and  justice  which  becomes  a  great 
nation,  they  would  have  delivered  up  to  the  United 
States  that  frigate  as  belonging  to  them  ;  and  would 
have  punished,  in  the  most  exemplary  manner,  her 
captain  for  having  thus  violated  the  laws  of  war  and 
the  customs  of  civilized  nations." 

On  the  1 8th  of  February,  178 1,  Paul  Jone? 
arrived  at  Philadelphia,  having  been  absent  fron 
America  three  years,  three  months,  and  eighteei 
days.  He  now  received  what  was  to  him  an  ampl« 
reward  for  his  past  years  of  toil  and  care.  The 
renown  of  his  exploits  had  spread  through  the  land 
No  one  in  the  army  or  the  navy  had  acquired  more 
celebrity.  Even  Mr.  Lee,  who  had  now  himself 
quarrelled  with  Landais,  and  had  become  convinceci 
that  he  was  insane,  joined  in  the  laudations  of  Coir* 
modore  Jones.  The  Board  of  Admiralty  condemnc  i 
the  course  of  Mr.  Lee,  and  sustained  Jones.  In  2 
report  which  the  Board  made  to  Congress,  on  th? 
2d  of  November,  1781,  it  was  said 


224  P-^UL  JONES. 

•'  1*^,  dppears  that  Captain  Landais  regained  com. 
mand  rf  the  Ahiance  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Lee,  not- 
withstanding his  suspension  by  Dr.  FrankHn,  who. 
by  the  direction  of  the  Marine  Committee,  had  the 
sole  management  of  our  marine  affairs  in  Europe." 

Congress  had  already  passed  a  resolve,  stating, 
''That  the  thanks  of  the  United  States,  in  Congress 
assembled,  be  given  to  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  for 
the  zeal,  prudence,  and  intrepidity,  with  which  he 
has  supported  the  honor  of  the  American  flag ;  for 
his  bold  and  successful  enterprises  to  redeem  from 
captivity  the  citizens  of  these  States,  who  had  fallen 
under  the  power  of  the  enemy ;  and,  in  general,  for 
the  good  conduct  and  eminent  services  by  which  he 
has  added  lustre  to  his  character  and  to  the  Ameri. 
can  arms." 

General  Washin^^ton,  with  his  customary  cir- 
cumspection, wrote  to  him  :  "  Whether  our  naval 
affairs  have,  in  general,  been  well  or  ill  conducted, 
would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  determine.  In 
stances  of  bravery  and  good  conduct,  in  several  of 
our  officers,  have  not,  however,  been  wanting.  Deli- 
cacy forbids  me  to  mention  that  particular  one  which 
has  attracted  the  admiration  of  all  the  world,  and 
which  has  influenced  the  most  illustrious  monarch 
to  confer  a  mark  of  his  favor,  which  can  only  be 


THE  RETURN    TO  AMERICA.  2.^5 

obtained  by  long  and  honorable  service,  or  by  the 
performance  of  some  brilliant  action." 

The  warm-hearted  Marquis  de  Lafayette  wrote, 
in  much  more  glowing  terms,  to  his  old  friend.  He 
was  just  on  the  point  of  sailing  for  France.  His  let- 
ter w  as  dated  on  the  Alliance,  off  Boston,  December 
22d,  1781. 

"  I  have  been  honored  with  your  polite  favor, 
my  dear  Paul  Jones,  but  before  it  reached  me  I  was 
already  on  board  the  Alliance,  and  was  every  min- 
ute expecting  to  put  to  sea.  As  to  the  pleasure  to 
take  you  by  the  hand,  my  dear  Paul  Jones,  you 
know  my  affectionate  sentiments,  and  my  very  great 
regard  for  you,  so  that  I  need  not  add  anything  on 
that  subject. 

"Accept  my  best  thanks  for  the  kind  expres- 
sions in  your  letter.  The  downfall  of  Comwallis  is  a 
great  event ;  and  the  greater  as  it  was  equally  and 
amicably  shared  by  the  two  allied  nations.  Your 
coming  to  the  army  I  had  the  honor  to  command, 
would  have  been  considered  as  a  very  flattering  com- 
pliment to  one  who  loves  you  and  knows  your  worth 
I  am  impatient  to  hear  that  you  are  ready  to  sail. 
And  I  am  of  opinion  that  we  ought  to  ui  ite,  under 
you,  every  Continental  ship  we  can  muster,  with  such 
a  body  of  well-appointed  marines  as  might  cut  a 
rot^d    figure  ashore  and    then  give   you   plenty  of 

lO* 


236  PAUL  JONES. 

provisions,  and  carte  blanche,  I  am  sorry  I  canno< 
see  you.     I  have  also  many  things  to  tell  you.  ' 

Honorable  John  Adams  wrote  him,  from  the 
Hague.  In  this  letter  he  said  :  '*  Could  I  see  a  pros- 
pect  of  half-a-dozen  line-of-battle  ships,  under  the 
American  flag,  commanded  by  Commodore  Paul 
Jones,  engaged  with  an  equal  British  force,  I  appre- 
hend the  event  would  be  so  glorious  for  the  United 
States,  and  lay  so  sure  a  foundation  for  their  pros- 
perity, that  it  would  be  a  rich  compensation  for  the 
continuance  of  the  war." 

Commodore  Jones  was  summoned  to  appear 
before  Congress  to  answer  a  large  number  of  ques- 
tions, which  had  been  carefully  drawn  up,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  delay  of  the  stores  in  Europe,  and  the 
many  other  difficulties  in  the  marine  which  had 
occurred  there.  His  answers  were  so  full  and  satis- 
factory  as  to  draw  from  Congress  the  most  cordial 
approval  of  his  course.  In  the  complimentary  re- 
solves it  was  added : 

"  That  the  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  these 
United  States,  at  the  Court  of  Versailles,  communi- 
cated to  his  most  Christian  Majesty  the  high  satis- 
faction Congress  has  received  from  the  conduct  and 
gallant  behavior  of  Captain  John  Paul  Jones,  which 
have  merited  the  attention  and  approbation  of  his 
most  Christian  Majesty  *  and  that  his  majesty's  offe; 


THE   RETURN   TO  AMERICA.  22; 

of  adorning  Captain  Jones  with  a  Cross  of  Military* 
Merit,  is  highly  acceptable  to  Congress." 

Congress  at  that  time  held  its  sessions  in  Phila^ 
dclphia.  The  French  minister,  M.  de  la  Luzerne, 
gave  a  very  brilliant  fete  to  all  the  members  of 
Congress.  In  the  presence  of  that  august  body, 
with  imposing  ceremonials,  he  conferred  upon  Jones, 
in  the  name  of  the  King  of  France,  the  honor  he  so 
richly  merited. 

Congress  commenced  building,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Commodore  Jones,  a  very  splendid  seventy- 
four-gun  ship,  to  be  called  the  America.  By  unani- 
mous vote  of  Congress,  Captain  Jones  was  intrusted 
with  the  command.  For  sixteen  months  he  devoted 
his  tireless  energies  to  building  this  ship,  with  which 
he  could  bid  defiance  to  any  single  ship  in  the  British 
navy,  and  which  would  enable  him  to  render  really 
efficient  service  to  his  country. 

While  abroad  he  had  collected  copies  of  all  the 
important  treatises  upon  naval  tactics;  upon  the 
construction  of  ships,  the  police  of  fleets  and  dock- 
yards, and  every  other  branch  of  his  noble  profession. 
Every  moment  of  leisure  was  devoted  to  these  studies 
He  became  an  enthusiastic  student,  resolved  tc 
make  himself  as  perfect  as  possible  in  all  the  accom- 
plishments of  his  noble  profession.     And  it  is  ssiio  to 


22$  PALL  JONES. 

say  that  there  was  not,  in  our  navy,  any  officer  more 
thoroughly  instructed. 

On  the  birth  of  the  Dauphin,  the  unfoitunate  son 
of  Louis  XVI.  and  Maria  Antoinette,  Commodore 
Jones  mounted,  on  the  deck  of  the  unfinished  ship 
America,  a  battery,  at  his  own  expense.  The  flag 
of  France  was  unfurled  from  the  mast-head,  and 
salutes  were  fired  at  repeated  hours  during  the  day. 
At  night  the  ship  was  illuminated,  and  there  was  a 
brilliant  display  of  fireworks. 

Jones  obtained  great  credit  with  both  American 
and  French  officers  for  the  skill  he  displayed  in  the 
construction  of  this  ship.  It  was  fifty  and  a-half  feet 
in  breadth,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty-two  and 
a-half  feet  in  length.  The  best  judges  pronounced 
her  to  be  a  model  of  naval  architecture.  It  was  the 
largest  seventy-four-gun  ship  then  in  the  world. 
And  yet  she  floated  so  gracefully  that,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  a  mile,  she  appeared  like  a  delicate  frigate : 
and  no  one  would  have  suspected  that  she  had  a 
second  battery. 

The  embarrassments  which  Jones  experienced, 
and  the  delays  to  which  he  was  exposed  in  building, 
arming,  and  rigging  this  admirable  structure,  were 
innumerable.  Money,  first  of  all,  was  wanted  ;  suit- 
able workmen  were  with  difficulty  found,  and  he 
never   had   more    than    twenty-fou!  ca^-j centers   cav 


THE   RETURN   TO  AMERICA.  22^ 

ployed.  Our  machinery  and  manufactures  were  not 
in  a  sufficiently  advanced  state  to  furnish  propei 
material  for  the  rigging,  and  suitable  armament  for  a 
first-class  ship.  Nearly  all  such  stores  were  to  be 
brought  from  Europe.  The  ships  which  brought 
them  had  to  run  the  gauntlet  through  the  powerful 
fleet  of  England. 

There  probably  was  not  another  man,  then  in  the 
United  States,  capable  of  doing  what  Commodore 
Jones  did  in  building  this  ship.  It  is  to  be  remem- 
bered that  the  whole  population  of  the  United 
States,  widely  scattered,  amounted  to  but  ibout 
three  millions,  about  the  same  as  the  present  popu- 
lation  of  the  State  of  New  York.  For  such  a  little 
band  to  bid  defiance  to  the  majestic  power  of  Eng 
land  was  one  of  the  boldest  deeds  ever  performed. 
We  should  inevitably  have  been  crushed  but  for  the 
aid  of  our  generous  ally. 

About  the  middle  of  August  Jones  left  Phila- 
delphia for  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  where  the 
ship  was  being  built.  On  the  way  he  visited  the 
allied  army  under  General  Washington  and  the 
French  General  Rochambeau,  then  encamped  at 
White  Plains,  in  Westchester  county.  New  York. 
There  was  scarcely  any  name  then  more  prominent 
iu  the  army  and  the  navy  than  that  of  Paul  Jones. 
He  was  received  by  the  officers  of  both  armies  with 


2  30  PAUL  JONES. 

flattering  distinction.  In  addition  to  his  merits  zs.  i 
brave  warrior  he  was  an  intelligent,  courteous,  accom- 
plished gentleman — one  whose  upright  and  elevated 
character  commanded  universal  respect.  He  reached 
Portsmouth  near  the  middle  of  September.  There 
was  everything  to  discourage  him.  The  resources 
of  the  country  seemed  to  be  exhausted,  and  but  a 
small  portion  of  the  materials  for  building  the  ship 
had  been  purchased. 

But  Commodore  Jones  plunged  into  the  great 
enterprise  with  all  his  thoughtful  and  intelligent 
energies.  No  time  was  wasted  in  useless  repinings. 
He  was  intensely  anxious  for  active  service.  Super- 
intending work  in  the  ship-yard  was  not  congenial 
employment  for  him,  when  he  longed  to  be  upon  the 
deck  of  his  ship  humbling,  by  his  broadsides,  that 
proud  power  which  was  stigmatizing  the  officers  in 
the  United  States  Navy  as  traitors,  pirates,  and 
thieves.  During  these  weary  months  he  was,  hov/ 
ever,  cheered  by  the  conviction  that  he  would  soon 
unfurl  his  flag  on  board  the  America ;  and  that 
then,  with  a  combined  French  and  American  squad- 
ron, he  would  strike  blows  which  would  compel 
the  British  government  to  respect  the  rights  of  hu 
manity. 

Before  Commodore  Jones   commenced  work  on 
the    America,  he    had  quite  despaired  of  obtaining 


THE   RETURN   TO  AMERICA.  23 > 

another  ship,  in  his  eagerness  to  be  actively  cr*> 
ployed  in  working  out  the  redemption  of  his  adopted 
country  from  British  thraldom,  he  contemplatco 
entering  the  army,  to  serve  in  the  corps  of  Lafayette 
The  English  naval  officers  heard  of  the  building  of 
the  America,  and  were  anxious  to  destroy  her  before 
she  could  put  to  sea.  They  had  formed  various 
plans,  which  were  communicated  by  Washington  to 
Commodore  Jones.  Ships  were  cruising  off  the  har- 
bor of  Portsmouth,  and  a  fleet  of  armed  boats  was  t<> 
be  sent  in  at  night,  to  apply  the  torch. 

Jones  organized  an  armed  guard  for  the  protec- 
tion of  the  America.  It  was  necessary  for  him  to 
employ  in  this  service  the  mechanics  who  were 
engaged  in  building  the  ship.  Jones  himself  fre- 
quently took  command  of  this  guard,  and  carefully 
drilled  them  in  the  art  of  defence.  They  were 
thoroughly  drilled,  and  had  several  pieces  of  cannon 
which  they  were  taught  to  manage  with  great  skill. 
They  were  prepared  to  give  a  very  warm  reception  to 
any  assailants.  Several  times,  in  the  dim  starlight, 
crowded  boats  were  seen,  pulling  silently  into  the 
harbor  with  muffled  oars.  But  the  defences  were 
to  formidable  that  they  never  ventured  to  make  ar 
attack. 

It  was  near  the  close  of  1782  when  the  ship  was 
ocarly  completed  and  ready  for  launching.     Jones 


232  PAUL  JONES. 

now  felt  that  he  was  soon  to  reap  the  reward  of  hi. 
long  and  painful  labors.  And  then  came  a  sudden, 
unexpected,  terrible  disappointment.  A  squadron 
of  French  line-of-battle  ships,  coming  over  to  our  aid, 
entered  Boston  harbor.  One  of  the  finest  of  these 
ships,  the  Magnifique,  stranded,  and  was  entirely  lost. 
As  they  had  come  to  assist  us,  Congress  justly 
regarded  the  ship  as  lost  in  our  service.  To  indem- 
nify the  King  of  France  for  this  loss,  and  to  show 
our  gratitude  to  our  allies,  it  was  at  once  voted  to 
present  the  America  to  the  King  of  France.  Thus 
again,  in  a  moment,  were  all  the  brightest  hopes  of 
Paul  Jones  dashed. 

It  was  the  duty  of  Honorable  Robert  Morris,  agent 
of  Marine,  to  communicate  this  intelligence  to  the 
Chevalier  Paul  Jones.  He  evidently  recoiled  from 
the  unwelcome  task.  In  his  kind  and  sympathetic 
letter  he  said  : 

*'  I  know  you  so  well  as  to  be  convinced  that  it 
must  give  you  great  pain,  and  I  sincerely  sympathize 
with  you.  But  although  you  will  undergo  much 
concern  at  being  deprived  of  this  opportunity  to 
reap  laurels  on  your  favorite  field,  yet  your  regard 
for  France  will  in  some  measure  alleviate  it.  I  must 
entreat  you  to  continue  your  inspection  until  she  is 
launched,  ajid  to  urge  forward  the  business.  When 
that  is  done,  if  vou  will  come  hither  I  will  exob»in  to 


THE   RETURN   TO   AMERICA.  J33 

you  the  reasons  which  led  to  this  measure,  and  my 
views  for  employing  you  in  the  service  of  your 
country." 

The  answer  of  Commodore  Jones  was  worthy  ol 
the  man.  There  were  few  who  could  have  received 
so  terrible  a  blow  so  meekly,  and  with  so  much  dig- 
nity. Honorable  Robert  Morris  acknowledged  the 
receipt  of  his  reply  in  a  letter,  which  justice  to  Com- 
modore Jones  demands  should  be  given  in  full.  It 
was  as  follows : 

"  Marine  OtTiCE,  October  9th,  178a. 

**  Chevalier  Paul  Jones,  Portsmouth. 

"  Sir — I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  22d 
of  last  month.  The  sentiments  contained  in  it  will 
always  reflect  the  highest  honor  upon  your  character. 
They  have  made  so  strong  an  impression  upon  my 
mind  that  I  immediately  transmitted  an  extract  of 
your  letter  to  Congress.  I  doubt  not  but  that  they 
will  view  it  in  the  manner  which  I  have  done. 
"  I  am,  etc., 

'*  Robert  Morris. 

Mr.  Morris  wrote,  in  his  letter  to  the  President 
of  Congress :  *'  I  do  myself  the  honor  to  enclose  your 
excellency  the  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  received  this 
morning  from  the  Chevalier  Paul  Jones.  The  pres- 
ent state  of  our  e ffairs  does  not  permit  me  to  employ 


«34  ^AUL   TONES. 

chat  valuable  officer;  and  I  confess  that  it  is  with  nz 
small  degree  of  concern  that  I  consider  the  little 
probability  of  rendering  his  talents  useful  to  that 
couiitry  which  he  has  already  so  faithfully  served 
and  with  so  great  disinterestedness.  I  should  d;? 
injustice  to  my  own  feelings  as  well  as  to  my  coun- 
try, if  I  did  not  most  warmly  recommend  this  gen- 
tleman to  the  notice  of  Congress,  whose  favor  he  ha* 
certainly  merited  by  the  most  signal  services  anc* 
?a.crifices." 

Jones  continued  faithfully  superintending  the 
completion  of  the  America,  until  she  was  launched,  on 
the  5th  of  November.  It  was  necessary  to  build  this 
ship  where  she  could  be  protected  from  the  assaults 
of  the  British  navy.  It  was  anticipated,  by  many, 
that  the  launching  would  be  attended  with  great 
difficulty.  Commodore  Jones  attended  to  the  minut- 
est details  with  wonderful  skill. 

The  river  was  not  more  than  two  hundred  yards 
wide.  On  one  side  of  the  building  slip  there  v/as  a 
ledge  of  rocks,  running  half-way  across  the  river,  and 
parallel  to  the  direction  of  the  ship's  keel.  The 
opposite  shore  was  fringed  with  rocks  The  tide 
rushed  in  and  out  with  great  rapidity.  It  was  ne- 
cessary to  launch  near  flood-tide,  when  the  current 
was  very  rapid.  There  was  much  danger  that  the 
ship  might  be  swept  against  the  ledge.     This  could 


THE   RETURN  TO   AMERICA.  235 

only  be  obviated  by  cables  and  anchors  secured  on 
the  shore.  With  great  ingenuity,  these  were  so  ar- 
ranged as  to  check  the  speed  of  the  ship,  and  bring 
her  to  a  stand  at  a  particular  spot. 

The  flags  of  France  and  America  were  blended 
in  friendly  union  at  the  stern.  Jones  took  his  stand 
on  a  platform,  near  the  bows  of  the  ship.  He  gave 
every  signal ;  watched  every  movement,  and  ordered 
when  the  anchors  at  the  bows  were,  in  succession,  to 
be  let  go.  Beautifully,  majestically,  successfully,  the 
vast  fabric  glided  into  its  native  element.  The  ad- 
miration of  the  thousands  of  spectators  was  an- 
nounced in  enthusiastic  cheers. 

On  the  same  day  Chevalier  Jones  gracefully  sur- 
rendered the  America  to  Chevalier  de  Martigne, 
who  had  commanded  the  Magnifique.  The  next 
morning,  again  out  of  employment,  he  set  out  for 
Philadelphia,  to  seek  new  engagements  in  the  servke 
of  his  couRtr^ 


CHAPTER  XI. 
The   War  Ended, 

Promise  of  the  South  Carolina. — A  New  Disappointment. — The  Great 
Expedition  Planned. — Magnitude  of  the  Squadron.— The  Ap- 
pointed Rendezvous. — Commodore  Jones  Joins  the  Expedition. 
— His  Cordial  Reception. — Great  Difficulties  and  Embarrass- 
ments.— The  Rendezvous  at  Port  Cabella — Tidings  of  Peace. — 
Return  to  America. — New  Mission  to  France. 

Honorable  Robert  Morris  wished  to  give 
Commodore  Jones  command  of  a  large,  strongly  built 
frigate  called  the  South  Carolina,  then  in  the  service 
of  that  State.  This  was  the  ship  built  at  Amster- 
dam, called  the  Indian,  the  command  of  which  was 
promised  to  him  when  he  went  to  Europe.  Either 
from  the  inability  of  the  commissioners  to  pay  for 
the  ship,  or  from  the  remonstrances  of  England  that 
a  ship  should  be  built  in  a  neutral  court  to  aid  her 
insurgent  colonies,  the  object  was  defeated.  In 
some  way  the  King  of  France  came  in  possession  of 
the  ship,  and  having  at  that  time  no  special  use  for 
it  he  loaned  it  to  one  of  the  prominent  members  of 
his  court,  the  Chevalier  de  Luxembourg.  He  loaned 
it  to  South  Carolina  for  three  years,  to  guard   her 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  237 

coasts,  on  condition  that  he  should  receive  one- 
fourth  of  the  proceeds  of  her  prizes.  It  was  placed 
undei  the  command  of  Commodore  Gillon,  who, 
with  a  small  fleet,  was  to  protect  the  harbors  of 
the  State.  He  changed  the  name  to  the  South 
Carolina. 

It  was  an  uncommonly  fast  and  formidable  ship. 
Congress  was  anxious  to  get  possession  of  it.  As 
the  Chevalier  de  Luxembourg  had  received  no  pay- 
ment, though  many  prizes  had  been  taken,  he  was 
dissatisfied,  and  ver}'-  justly  deemed  the  contract 
annulled.  He  therefore  authorized  the  French  min- 
ister at  Philadelphia  to  cooperate  with  Mr.  Morris 
in  obtaining  the  surrender  of  the  ship  to  the  United 
States.  Gillon  heard  of  these  movements,  and 
escaped  the  legal  process  for  seizing  the  ship,  by 
suddenly  putting  to  sea. 

The  South  Carolina  had  but  just  cleared  the 
Capes  of  Delaware,  when  she  was  pounced  upon  and 
captured  by  three  English  frigates,  the  Diomede,  the 
Astrea,  and  the  Quebec,  which  had  been  stationed 
there  to  intercept  her.  Thus  again  were  the  hopes 
of  Commodore  Jones  blighted.  He  had  fully  ex- 
pected to  take  command  of  the  South  Carolina.  It 
was  certainly  from  no  fault  of  his  own  that  he  was 
disappointed. 

A  French  fleet  of  ten  .sail  of  the  line  was  then  at 


238  PAUL  JONES. 

Boston,  on  the  eve  of  sailing  for  tlie  West  Indies 
It  was  there  to  unite  with  a  combined  French  and 
Spanish  fleet,  under  Count  d'Estaing.  This  formid- 
able squadron,  consisting  of  seventy  vessels  in  all, 
with  a  strong  land  force,  was  to  make  a  descent  en 
the  island  of  Jamaica,  and  wrest  it  from  the  English. 
Jones  earnestly  applied  for  permission  to  embark  lu 
tnis  expedition.  Ever  eager  to  learn,  and  ever  mod- 
estly conscious  that  he  had  much  to  learn,  h-  hoped 
thus  to  become  practically  acquainted  with  the  evo- 
lution of  fleets  on  a  scale  so  grand.  His  enthusiasm 
was  aroused  at  the  idea  of  witnessing  so  sublime  a 
naval  display.  He  also  hoped,  from  his  intimate 
acquaintance  with  those  seas,  to  be  able  to  rendei 
eminent  assistance  to  Count  d'Estaing. 

Mr.  Morris  applied  to  Congress,  in  behalf  o( 
Commodore  Jones,  that  permission  might  be  given 
him  to  join  the  expedition.  In  a  very  complimen 
tary  letter  he  wrote : 

"  His  present  desire,  to  be  sent  with  Count  d'Es- 
taing, consists  with  all  his  former  conduct.  Ami 
it  will,  I  dare  say,  be  a  very  pleasing  reflection  tc 
Congress  that  he  is  about  to  pursue  a  knowledge  of 
his  profession,  so  as  to  become  still  more  useful,  il 
ever  he  should  be  again  called  to  the  command  of  3 
squadron  or  a  fleet." 

Congress  passed  a  very  flattering  resolve,  gran: 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  239 

ing  his  request,  and  especially  recommending  him  to 
his  excellency  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil.  The 
commodore  immediately  repaired  to  Boston,  vhere 
he  was  received  by  the  marquis  with  every  mark 
of  attention.  Though  the  flag-ship  of  the  marquis 
the  Triomphante,  was  crov/ded,  and  sixty  officers  sat 
daily  at  his  table,  Commodore  Jones  was  received 
on  board  that  ship,  and  was  assigned  lodgings  cor- 
responding with  those  of  Vaudreuil.  The  splendors 
of  the  court  of  Louis  XVI.  still  lingered  around  the 
court  and  camp  of  Louis  XVL 

Nearly  all  the  officers  of  the  French  army  and 
navy  were  men  of  illustrious  birth,  intelligent,  chiv- 
alric,  high-bred  gentlemen.  In  this  society  Jones, 
himself  a  courtly  and  well-educated  man,  found  con- 
genial companionship.  He  was  a  man  of  pure  lips 
and  refined  bearing,  fond  of  cultivated  female  society, 
and  instinctively  recoiling  from  all  coarseness  and 
vulgarity.  He  was  esteemed  a  very  valuable  acqui 
sition  to  the  enterprise.  His  modest,  friendly  spirit, 
united  with  his  unrivalled  intrepidity,  won  the  affec- 
tion of  the  officers  and  the  homage  of  the  crew. 
The  fact  was  also  recognized  that  there  was  not,  on 
board  the  fleet,  a  single  man  so  intimately  acquainted 
with  those  seas,  and  particularly  with  the  island  of 
Jamaica,  as  he  was.  Jones  was  highly  pleased  with 
the  opportunity  of  improvement  thus  presented  him 


240  PAUL  JUNES. 

and  with  the  very  kind  mam.er  in  which  he  had  bceK 
received.  In  his  journal  he  wrote,  with  characteristic 
modesty : 

"  As  the  Marquis  d'Estaing  had  commanded  a  fleet 
ol  more  than  seventy  sail  of  the  line,  1  had  the  flat- 
tering hope  of  finding  myself  in  the  first  military 
school  in  the  world ;  in  which  I  should  be  able  to 
render  myself  useful,  and  to  acquire  knowledge  very 
important  for  conducting  great  military  opera- 
tions." 

The  squadron,  consisting  of  ten  sail  of  the  line, 
left  Boston  on  the  24th  of  December,  1782.  The 
course  of  the  ships  was  directed  toward  the  mouth 
of  Portsmouth  harbor,  where  they  were  to  be  joined 
by  two  other  ships  of  the  hne,  the  Auguste  and 
the  Pluton.  But  a  severe  wintry  storm  arose,  with 
freezing  gales  and  snow,  and  drove  the  squadron 
far  away  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  Here 
the  fleet  was  for  a  time  in  imminent  danger  from 
its  proximity  to  the  land  and  to  vast  fields  of 
floating  ice. 

Many  of  the  vessels  were  lost  sight  of  in  the 
storm.  The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  steered  to  the 
southward,  to  an  appointed  rendezvous  in  the  harbor 
oi  St.  John,  on  the  island  of  Porto  Rico.  As  he 
made  the  land  he  was  informed  that  sixteen  British 
men-of-war,    under   Admiral    Hood,   were   cruisirj? 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  24I 

off  Cape  Francois,  on  the  look-out  for  him  ;  and  that 
a  still  larger  naval  force,  under  Admiral  Pigot,  was 
ivatching  for  him  at  Lucca,  one  of  the  extreme 
western  towns  of  the  island  of  Jamaica.  England 
had  made  such  ample  preparation  for  this  anticipated 
assault ;  that  it  was  thought  that  the  French  squad- 
ton  must  fall  a  prey,  either  to  Hood  or  Pigot. 

Vaudreuil  remained  at  St.  John,  Porto  Rico,  ten 
days,  waiting  the  arrival  of  other  vessels  of  his  fleet 
Here  he  performed  all  kinds  of  naval  evolutions,  as 
a  general  on  land  would  review  his  army.  He  also 
found  at  this  place  a  very  ample  supply  from  France 
to  replenish  his  stores.  The  island  of  Porto  Rico, 
which  lies  off  the  eastern  coast  of  St.  Domingo,  is 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  miles  in  length,  by 
thirty  miles  in  breadth. 

The  strait,  but  eighty  miles  wide,  which  sepa- 
rates it  from  San  Domingo,  is  called  the  Mona  Pas- 
sage.  The  island  was  then  in  a  state  of  prosperity, 
and  it  carried  on  very  extensive  commerce  with 
France  and  Spain.  It  it  that  time  belonged  to 
Spain,  and  contained  a  population  of  about  eighty 
thousand.  The  native  inhabitants  had  all  melted 
away.  The  principal  city,  St.  John,  enjoyed  a  very 
fine  harbor,  and  had  a  population  of  about  thirty 
thousand. 

The   marquis   convoyed,  with   his   fleet,  sixteen 
II 


142  PAUL  JONES. 

French  merchant  \«essels  from  the  eastern  to  th« 
western  end  of  the  island,  along  the  northern  coast 
The  general  rendezvous,  for  the  French  and  Spanish 
fleet,  had  been  appointed,  with  the  greatest  secrecy, 
at  a  little  island  called  Port  Cabello,  but  a  few  miles 
off  the  extreme  northern  coast  of  Venezuela.  Some 
light  vessels  of  Admiral  Hood's  squadron,  which 
were  cruising  as  scouts,  caught  sight  of  the  French 
fleet  in  the  Mona  passage.  They  immediately  ran 
back  with  the  tidings  that  the  fleet  was  coasting 
along  the  southern  shore  of  the  San  Domingo. 

But  Vaudreuil  suddenly  turned  his  direction 
south,  sailed  down  between  two  and  three  hundred 
miles  to  the  unfrequented  islands  which  are  scattered 
along  the  northern  shore  of  Venezuela.  The  little 
island  of  Port  Cabello  was  about  sixty  miles  west  of 
the  mich  better  known  island  of  Curagoa.  A  great 
expedition  of  this  kind  is  liable  to  innumerable 
hindrances.  It  can  never  succeed,  unless  there  is 
some  imperial,  Napoleonic  mind,  which  can  appre- 
ciate all  its  grandeur,  and  at  the  same  time  can  reg- 
ulate all  its  minutest  details.  Such  enterprises  ren- 
der a  dictatorship,  for  that  purpose,  indispensable. 
A  ship  of  war,  an  army,  a  fleet,  must  be  under  dicta 
torial  power. 

But  here  was  a  squadron  of  more  than  seventy 
vessels   to   be    gathered  from   several  ports    in   the 


THE  WAR   ENDED.  243 

United  States,  from  wide  dispersion  on  the  cruising 
grounds  of  an  intense  naval  warfare,  from  several 
ship-yards  of  Spain  and  France,  exposed  to  storms, 
to  shipwreck,  to  misunderstood  orders,  to  delays  in 
equipping  the  ships,  to  the  antagonisms  and  jeal- 
ousies of  rival  officers,  and  to  meet,  at  an  almost  un- 
known island,  thousands  of  miles  from  the  place  of 
departure  of  each  ship. 

The  fleet  of  the  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  was  swept, 
by  the  trade  winds  and  the  strong  current  of  the 
Gulf  Stream,  sixty  miles  west  of  Port  Cabello.  It  re- 
quired  three  toilsome  weeks  to  recover  this  distance, 
beating  against  wind  and  tide.  The  accompanying 
transports,  being  heavily  laden  merchant  ships,  and 
not  fleet  sailors,  bearing  stores  of  provisions  and  am- 
munition and  many  land  troops,  were  unable  to 
recover  the  lost  space,  against  wind  and  flood.  After 
many  ineffectual  attempts  they  were  compelled  to 
relinquish  the  endeavor.  They  left  the  squadron, 
and  bore  away  to  the  coast  of  San  Domingo. 

One  of  the  finest  of  the  war-ships,  the  Burgoyne, 
of  seventy-four  guns,  in  a  dark  and  stormy  night, 
ran  upon  a  rock,  and  was  totally  lost,  with  two  hun- 
dred of  her  crew.  On  the  i8th  of  February,  1783 
the  Triomphante  reached  Port  Cabello.  The  Au 
guste  and  Pluton,  which  had  been  separated  from 
the  fleet  by  the  storm,  near  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  had 


244  PAUL  JONES. 

arrived  a  few  days  before.  Soon  after,  the  remaining 
ivar-ships  of  the  squadron,  one  after  another,  came 
in. 

The  Spanish  fleet  was  to  sail  from  Havana, 
under  command  of  Don  Salano.  He  had  promised 
to  be  at  the  rendezvous  punctually.  But  he  did  not 
keep  his  word.  Probably  some  pique  stood  in  the 
way.  Nothing  was  seen  of  him,  or  heard  from  him. 
The  Spanish  government  was  dissatisfied  with  his 
course,  ordered  him  home,  and  another  was  placed 
in  command. 

The  large  combined  force,  of  French  and  Span- 
ish ships,  was  to  sail  from  Cadiz,  in  the  extreme 
south  of  Spain,  under  Count  d'Estaing.  At  Port 
Cabello,  he  was  to  take  command  of  the  whole  ex- 
pedition. But  just  as  the  fleet  was  on  the  eve  of 
sailing,  the  British  government,  alarmed  by  the  little 
success  which  had  attended  its  efforts  thus  far,  the 
enormous  expense  which  the  conflict  involved,  the 
loss  of  all  its  trade  with  the  colonies,  the  interrup- 
tion of  its  commerce  throughout  the  world,  and 
more  than  all  by  the  clamor  of  popular  indignation, 
which  rose,  in  England,  against  the  unrighteous  wai 
it  was  waging,  which  clamor  would  make  itself 
heard  in  the  House  of  Commons  and  the  House  of 
Lords,  very  reluctantly  felt  constrained  to  consider 
terms  of  peace.     It  was  decided  to  defer  the  sail 


THE  WAR   ENDED.  245 

Ing  of  the  fleet  tiil  the  result  »f  the  negotiations 
could  be  ascertained.  Thus  when  Vaudreuil  was 
hourly  looking  for  the  arrival  of  his  whole  squadron 
at  Port  Cabello,  his  transports  were  distant  four 
hundred  miles  at  Cape  Francois,  in  San  Domingo. 
The  Spanish  squadron,  under  Don  Solano,  was  dis- 
tant nearly  fifteen  hundred  miles  in  Havana ;  while 
the  great  combined  fleet  of  France  and  Spain,  under 
D'Estaing,  was  quietly  reposing,  at  the  distance  of 
many  thousand  miles,  in  the  harbor  of  Cadiz. 

The  last  thing  at  night,  the  officers  at  Cabello 
were  seen  at  the  mast-heads  of  the  ships,  ranging 
the  horizon  with  their  glasses,  in  search  of  the  ex- 
pected fleets.  The  earliest  dawn  of  the  morning 
found  them  again  upon  the  eager,  anxious  look-out. 
Thus  the  remainder  of  February,  and  the  whole  of 
the  month  of  March  passed  sadly  away.  Not  a  saD 
was  seen  to  break  the  outline  where  the  ocean  and 
the  sky  seemed  to  meet.  The  anxiety  of  the  ofii- 
cers  became  intense.  Their  decks  were  blistered 
beneath  the  heat  of  a  tropical  sun.  The  climate  was 
insalubrious.  There  was  nothing  in  their  surround- 
ings to  cheer  them.  The  disappointment  was  terri- 
ble. The  officers  who  had  embarked  on  the  enter- 
prise with  high  ambition,  anticipating  renowned 
achievements  and  unfading  laurels,  saw  all  theii 
hopes  vanishing,  and  that  the  ridicule  of  the  com- 


24fi  PAUL  JONES. 

munity,  instead  of  its  plaudits,  would   attend  thch 
•'eturn.     Such  is  life  : 

"  A  path  it  is  of  joys  and  griefs,  of  many  hopes  and  fears. 
Gladdened  at  times  by  sunny  smiles,  but  oftener  dimmed  by  tears.' 

Serious  sickness  broke  out,  vhich  seized  alike 
officers  and  crew.  Commodore  Jones  was  attacked 
with  intermittent  fever,  which  seemed  to  paralyze  his 
physical  energies,  leaving  his  mental  powers  in  all 
their  activity.  On  the  27th  of  February,  the  eve- 
ning before  his  arrival  at  Port  Cabello,  he  wrote  to 
the  Duke  de  la  Rochefoucauld,  saying : 

"  The  English  affairs  seem  in  so  bad  a  situation 
in  the  East  Indies,  that  I  think  even  the  most  san- 
guine among  them  can  expect  no  manner  of  advan- 
tage for  continuing  the  war.  As  Spain  has,  at  last, 
wisely  abandoned  the  siege  of  Gibraltar,  and,  as  we 
are  told,  doubled  her  ships  with  copper,  I  cannot 
think  the  English  so  blind  as  not  to  see  the  great 
risk  they  run  of  being  as  effectually  humbled  by  sea, 
as  they  are  by  land,  should  they  neglect  the  present 
moment  to  make  their  peace.  I  most  ardently  wish 
for  peace,  for  humanity  tells  me  there  has  been  too 
much  blood  spilt  already.  I  am  in  hopes  to  have 
the  happiness,  soon  after  the  war,  to  revisit  France.** 
The  same  day  he  wrote  to  Honorable  Mr.  Morris 
as  follows :  *'  I  have  already  received  much   iseful  in- 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  247 

fonnatlon,  since  I  embarked,  and  am  on  such  happ> 
terms  with  the  admiral  and  officers,  both  of  the 
fleet  and  army,  that  I  have  nothing  to  wish  from 
cHiem.  Deeply  sensible  how  favored  I  am  in  being 
thus  placed,  I  beg  you  to  express  my  gratitude  to 
Congress  on  the  occasion,  and  to  the  Chevalier  dc 
Luzerne.  The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  is  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  lieutenant-general,  and  now  carries  a 
vice-admiral's  flag.** 

On  the  25th  of  March  Jones  wrote  to  Lafayette, 
who  had  received  from  the  king  military  promotion. 
In  this  letter  he  wrote: 

"  I  am  really  happy  to  hear  that  justice  has  been 
rendered,  by  his  majesty,  to  such  distinguished  worth 
and  exertion  as  yours.  No  less  indeed  could  be 
expected  from  such  a  prince  to  such  a  subject.  We 
hear  that  you  are  at  Cadiz,  in  order  to  embark  with 
his  excellency  Count  d'Estaing.  This  would  afford 
me  the  greatest  pleasure,  did  not  my  love  of  glory 
give  place  to  my  more  ardent  wish  for  peace,  and 
that  you  might  have  the  happiness  to  carry  over  the 
olive  branch,  to  a  country  that  already  owes  you  so 
much  gratitude. 

"  Humanity  has  need  of  peace  ;  but  though  I  was 
led  to  expect  it  from  the  late  speech  from  the  throne, 
I  begin  to  fear  it  is  yet  at  some  distance.  There 
seems  to  be  a  malignity  in  the  English  blood,  which 


24S  P\UL   JONES. 

cannot  be  cured  till,  in  mercy  to  the  rest  of  mati 
kind,  ft  is  let  out,  that  the  disease  may  not  become 
epidemical.  I  pray  you  to  present  my  most  respect- 
ful compliments  to  the  Count  d'Estaing.  If  the  war 
continues,  I  hope  for  the  honor  of  making  the  cam- 
paign under  his  orders." 

Early  in  April  a  solitary  ship  was  seen  in  the  dis- 
tant horizon.  Her  approach  was  watched  with  the 
most  intense  eagerness.  She  entered  the  harbor 
with  floating  banners  and  triumphant  music  and 
shouts  of  peace.  She  conveyed  the  tidings  of  the 
treaty  which  brought  the  dreadful  war  to  a  close. 
There  were  but  few  Americans  in  the  fleet.  Their 
joy  must  have  been  great,  that  their  country  had 
successfully  fought  the  battles  of  freedom,  and  had  at 
length  escaped  from  the  grasp  of  the  oppressor.  We 
know  not  with  what  emotions  the  French  received 
the  tidings  which  convinced  them  that  the  naval 
campaign  in  which  they  had  anticipated  such  great 
results  had  proved  so  serious  a  failure. 

Commodore  Jones  was  weary  of  war.  He  ever 
abhorred  those  atrocities  inevitably  involved  in  what 
Napoleon  I.  has  called  **  The  science  of  barbarians.' 
Just  before  the  sailing  of  the  fleet  he  thought  he  saw 
indications  that  peace  was  not  far  distant.  There 
was  quite  a  sum  of  money  due  to  him  from  France.. 
whose  remittance  he    was  daily  expecting.     Ther< 


THE  WAR   ENDED.  t4^ 

»ras  a  farm  house  and  an  extensive  tract  of  excellant 
land  for  sale  near  Newark,  New  Jersey.  It  had 
been  valued  at  forty  thousand  dollars.  But  property 
had  so  depreciated  during  the  war,  and  money  was 
so  scarce,  that  it  was  now  seekinpj  a  purchaser  at  ten 
thousand  dollars.  Commodore  Jones,  with  his  hu- 
mane feeHngs,  Hterary  taste,  and  yearnings  for  the 
joys  of  domestic  life,  was  anxious  to  purchase  this 
property.  He  wrote  accordingly,  on  the  24th  of 
December,  1782,  intrusting  the  business  to  his  friend 
John  Ross,  Esq. 

But  the  money  did  not  come.  The  purchase  was 
not  made.  Jones  was  far  away  in  the  harbor  of 
Port  Cabello.  He  had  received  no  response  to  his 
letter,  and  did  not  even  know  whether  his  agent  had 
ever  received  it.  In  this  uncertainty  he  again  wrote 
to  Mr.  Ross,  from  Port  Cabello,  on  the  16th  of  March 
1783.  After  briefly  recapitulating  the  contents  of 
his  former  letter  he  added  : 

"  As  New  York  will  probably  be  one  of  our  first 
naval  ports,  the  proximity  of  that  estate  made  me 
more  desirous  to  own  it.  If,  therefore,  you  should 
find,  on  inquiry,  that  1  have  been  rightly  informed, 
and  if  you  can  turn  the  merchandise  in  your  hands 
into  money,  to  answer  for  the  purchase,  I  pray  you 
to  act  for  me  as  you  would  for  yourself  on  the  occa 
sion. 


2SO  PAUL  JONES. 

'  We  have  as  yet  no  certain  news  from  Europe 
If  the  peace  should,  as  I  wish  it  may,  be  concluded. 
I  wish  to  establish  myself  on  a  place  I  can  call  my 
own,  and  offer  my  hand  to  some  fair  daughter  of 
liberty.  If,  on  the  contrary,  Count  d'Estaing  should 
come  out  with  fifty  sail  of  the  line,  copper  sheathed, 
and  eighteen  thousand  troops,  I  shall  have  instruc- 
tions at  the  greatest  military  school  in  the  world." 

The  satisfaction  of  Jones,  upon  the  establishment 
of  peace,  and  the  independence  of  the  land  of  his 
adoption,  appears  to  have  been  unqualified.  He 
immediately  wrote  to  a  friend  : 

"  The  most  brilliant  success,  and  the  most  in- 
structive experience  in  war  could  not  have  given  me 
a  pleasure  comparable  with  that  which  I  received, 
when  I  learned  that  Great  Britain  had,  after  so  long 
a  contest,  been  forced  to  acknowledge  the  indepen- 
dence and  sovereignty  of  the  United  States  of 
America." 

Nothing  can  be  more  evident,  in  the  whole 
career  of  Commodore  Jones,  than  that  he  fought  not 
from  the  love  of  war,  but  to  secure  for  America  an 
honorable  peace.  Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of 
the  intelligence  of  the  treaty,  the  little  squadron 
weighed  anchor,  and  sailed  for  Cape  Francois,  upon 
the  island  of  San  Domingo.  After  a  passage  of 
eight  days  the  cape  was  reached  on  the  i6th  of  thf 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  2$* 

month.  Here  Commodore  Jones,  though  still  suf- 
fering from  an  intermittent  fever,  took  leave  of  his 
friends,  and  embarked  for  Philadelphia.  It  is  mani- 
fest that  he  had  commanded  warmly  the  esteem  of 
all  his  associates,  by  his  upright  and  noble  character. 
The  Marquis  de  Vaudreuil  wrote  to  ChevaHer  de  la 
Luzerne,  the  French  minister  in  America,  as 
follows.  The  letter  was  dated  at  Cape  Francois, 
April  20th,  1783. 

"  The  peace,  which  has  been  so  much  desired, 
and  which  is  going  to  make  the  happiness  of  Ameri- 
ca, since  it  puts  a  seal  to  her  liberty,  terminates  our 
projects.  We  shall  sail  for  France  in  a  week,  with 
the  troops  under  command  of  Baron  de  Viomenil. 
Mr.  Paul  Jones,  who  embarked  with  me,  is  about 
returning  to  his  dear  country.  His  well-deserved 
reputation  had  made  him  very  acceptable  to  me,  not 
doubting  but  that  we  should  have  had  some  oppor- 
tunities in  which  his  talents  might  have  shone  forth. 
But  peace,  of  which  I  cannot  but  be  glad,  puts  an 
obstacle  in  the  way  ;  so  we  must  part.  Permit  me, 
sir,  to  request  of  you  the  favor  of  recommendir:^ 
him  to  his  superiors.  The  intimate  acquaintance 
which  I  made  with  him  since  he  has  been  on  board 
the  Triomphante,  makes  me  take  a  'ively  interest 
in  what  concerns   him  ;  and  I  shall    be  very  mucb 


252  PAUL  JONES. 

Obliged  if  you  >/ill  find  means  of  being  serviceable 
to  him." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Paul  Jones  had  been 
assigned  a  room  on  board  the  crov/ded  Triom- 
phante,  with  Baron  de  Viomenil,  who  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  land  forces.  The  baron,  for  five  months, 
was  in  the  most  intimate  relation  with  Jones.  No 
one  could  have  a  better  opportunity  of  ascertaining 
his  true  character.  He  wrote  as  follows,  to  the 
French  ambassador  at  Philadelphia : 

'*  Mr.  Paul  Jones,  who  will  have  the  honor  of 
delivering  to  you,  sir,  this  letter,  has  for  five  months 
deported  himself  among  us  with  such  wisdom  and 
modesty  as  add  infinitely  to  the  reputation  gained 
oy  his  courage  and  exploits.  I  have  reason  to 
beheve  that  he  had  preserved  as  much  the  feeling 
of  gratitude  and  attachment  toward  France,  as  of 
patriotism  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of  America. 
Such  being  his  titles  to  attention,  I  take  the  hberty 
of  recommending  to  you  his  interests  near  the  Presi- 
dent and  Congress." 

Viomenil  also  wrote  the  Honorable  Mr.  Morris, 
in  high  commendation  of  Paul  Jones,  and  expiess 
ing  his  desires  for  the  prosperity  of  '''ce  brave  et 
honnite  homme'' 

Jones  appeared  in  Philadelphia  on  the  1 8th  of 
May,  1783.     He  was  still  suffering  from  fever  and 


JTHE  WAR   ENDED.  253 

his  constitution  was  greatly  shattered  by  the  hard- 
ships he  had  experienced.  Pie  therefore  retired,  for 
the  recovery  of  his  health,  to  the  beautiful  little  Mora- 
yain  village  of  Bethlehem,  Pennsylvania,  about  sixty 
miles  northwest  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Lehigh  river.  Here  he  passed  the  summer,  rest- 
ing from  his  toils  and  employing  his  time  in  those 
literary  and  scientific  studies  which  ever  deeply  in- 
terested him. 

His  health  being  much  improved,  he  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  1st  of  November,  1783,  an  agent  of 
the  United  States  Government  to  collect  the  amount 
of  money  for  prizes  taken,  in  Europe,  by  vessels 
under  his  command.  The  ships  had  been  sold,  and 
the  money  had  gone  into  the  French  treasury,  and 
was  not  yet  paid.  The  question  was  full  of  embar- 
rassing complications.  Several  years  had  elapsed 
since  the  prizes  were  captured.  The  sailors  who 
had  taken  them  were  scattered  in  all  parts  of  the 
world,  and  many  were  dead.  Was  the  distribution 
of  the  prizes  to  be  adjudged  according  to  French 
'aw,  or  American  law  ?  and  these  laws  were  very  dif 
fcrent.  The  Bon  Homme  Richard  was  a  Frencl 
ship,  purchased  and  armed  at  the  expense  of  the 
French  court,  and  entitled  to  raise  alike  the  French 
or  American  flag  What  proportion  of  the  prizes 
the  took  belonged  to  France,  and  what  to  America  ? 


254  PAUL  JONES. 

It  is  manifest  that,  in  carrying  claims  involving  sucL 
embarrassments  through  any  court  or  Congress,  there 
was  a  fine  opportunity  for  years  of  diplomatic  strug- 
gles. It  was  in  the  autumn  of  1779,  that  the  prizes 
were  taken  by  the  Bon  Homme  Richard.  Four 
years  had  since  elapsed,  and  yet  nothing  had  been 
done  toward  the  settlement  of  the  distribution  of 
the  prize-money.  There  was  not  another  man  in 
the  world  so  well  qualified  to  manage  this  difficult 
and  delicate  business  as  was  Commodore  Jones. 

He  was  personally  familiar  with  all  the  facts  in  the 
case.  By  midnight  studies  he  had  made  himself  thor- 
oughly acquainted  with  the  naval  code  of  all  the  Eu- 
ropean nations.  He  was  well  known  in  the  court  of 
France  and  was  very  highly  esteemed,  alike  by  the 
monarch,  his  cabinet  officers,  and  the  people.  And  in 
addition  to  all  this  he  was  a  well-bred  gentleman,  who 
scorned  all  trickery,  who  would  make  no  claim  which 
he  did  not  honestly  beHeve  to  be  just,  and  who,  while 
unyielding  in  his  righteous  demand,  was  ever  cour- 
teous and  gentle  in  his  bearing.  Even  Arthur  Lee 
was  one  of  the  committee  who  recommended  to 
Congress  that  this  all-important  commission  should 
be  assigned  to  Commodore  Jones.  As  it  was  ex- 
pected that  a  large  sum  of  money  would  be  placed 
in  his  hands,  he  was  required  to  give  bonds,  to  the 
amount  of  two  hundred  thousand  dollars,  in  pledge 


THE  WAR   ENDED.  255 

of  his  faithful  administration  of  the  trust.  It  is  evi 
dence  of  the  high  esteem  with  which  he  was  re- 
garded by  the  leading  men  of  the  nation,  that  he 
found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  bondsmen. 

On  the  loth  of  November,  Jones  sailed  from 
Philadelphia,  in  the  ship  Washington.  After  a 
stormy  wintry  passage  of  twenty  days,  the  ship, 
instead  of  making  the  French  harbor  of  Havre,  baf- 
fled by  head  winds  in  the  Channel,  ran  into  the  Eng- 
lish port  of  Plymouth.  As  Mr.  Jones  had  impor- 
tant despatches  for  John  Adams,  then  our  minister 
at  the  court  of  St.  James,  he  travelled  post  to  Lon- 
don. Mr.  Adams,  after  examining  his  documents,  in- 
formed Commodore  Jones  that  the  despatches  with 
which  he  was  intrusted  to  Dr.  Franklin,  in  Paris,  prob- 
ably contained  authorization  for  Adams  and  Franklin 
to  conclude  a  commercial  treaty  with  England. 

It  required  a  journey  and  voyage  of  five  days  for 
Jones  to  traverse  the  distance  between  London  and 
Paris.  FrankHn  received  his  old  friend  with  great 
cordiality.  Marshal  de  Castries  was  Minister  of 
Marine,  Count  de  Vergennes  occupied  another  of 
the  most  important  positions  in  the  government. 
They  both  received  Paul  Jones  with  all  those  flatter- 
ing attentions  which  render  French  society  so  fasci- 
nating. The  Chevalier  Luzerne  had  written  to 
them    both    from    Philadelphia,  affectionately   conv 


256  PAUL  JONES. 

mending  Paul  Jones  to  their  kind  regards.  With 
true  French  politeness  they  informed  him  that  they 
had  received  such  letters,  but  that  they  were  entirely 
unnecessary. 

'*We  have  no  need  of  letters,"  they  said,  "to 
inform  us  of  the  merits  of  Commodore  Jones,  or  to 
influence  us  to  do  him  justice." 

There  are  different  ways  of  doing  things  in  this 
world  ;  and  certainly  the  courteous  way  is  the  most 
agreeable.  England  had  denounced  Commodore 
Jones  as  a  pirate.  Had  England  captured  him,  it  is 
not  improbable  that  he  might  have  been  hung  like  a 
pirate.  Captain  Pearson,  who  commanded  the 
Serapis  in  the  encounter  with  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard,  was  a  brave  man,  perhaps  a  humane  man, 
but  coarse  and  vulgar,  quite  unacquainted  with  the 
courtesies  which  regulate  the  intercourse  of  gentle- 
man. As  he  presented  his  sword  to  Commodore 
Jones,  the  unmanly  Briton  said : 

**  It  is  with  great  reluctance  that  I  surrender  my 
sword  to  a  man  who  fights  with  a  halter  about  his 
neck ! " 

What  reply  should  the  commodore  make  to 
such  an  insult,  which  Pearson  probably  regarded 
merely  as  British  pluck?  Should  he  strike  his 
\inarmed  and  helpless  prisoner?     Should  he  soil  his 


THE  WAR  ENDED.  257 

lips  in  a  contest  of  blackguardism?     His  reply  was 
noble. 

"  Captain  Pearson,  you  have  fought  like  a  hero. 
And  I  have  no  doubt  that  your  sovereign  wiU 
reward  you  for  it  in  the  most  ample  manner."* 

•  liTe  of  ?».ai  Jcmes,  by   Alexander  Slidell  MAi&eiLue,  Vid.  i,  ; 


CHAPTER  XII. 
Thi  Difficulties  of  Diplomcuy 

CsiftTteous  Reception  in  Paris. — Compliment  of  the  King. — Princtpies 
of  Prize  Division. — Embarrassing  Questions. — Interesting  Cor- 
respondence.— The  Final  Settlement. — Modest  Claims  of  Com- 
modore Jones. — Plan  for  a  Commercial  Speculation. — Its  Failure. 
— The  Mission  to  Denmark. — Return  to  America. 

Commodore  Jones,  upon  his  arrival  in  Paris,  was 
invited  to  dine  with  Marshal  Castries,  Minister  of 
Marine.     After  dinner  the  marshal  took  the  commo 
dore  aside,  and  said  to  him : 

"  I  am  requested  by  his  majesty  the  king  to  say 
to  you  that  it  will  afford  him  much  satisfaction  to 
be   able,  in   any   way,  to   promote  your  future  for 
tune." 

The  commodore  immediately  entered,  with  all 
his  energies,  upon  the  arduous  duties  of  his  mission 
There  is  no  diplomacy  equal  that  of  a  straight-for- 
ward, honest  purpose.  There  was  nevei  a  shrewd 
manoeuvrer  who  did  not  eventually  manoeuvre  him- 
self out  of  all  influence.  The  reader  would  be  wear}^ 
of  the  detail  of  all  the  embarrassments  which, 
though   the  labors  of  two  years.  Commodore  Jones 


THE  DIFFICULTIES   OF  DIPLOMACY.  259 

encountered,  and  over  which,  one  by  one,  he  tri. 
umphed  And  his  success  was  never  owing  to  cun- 
ning or  intrigue,  but  to  the  frank  and  manly  pursuit 
of  that  which  was  just. 

A  careful  examination  of  the  diplomatic  corre- 
spondence, which  was  long-continued  and  with  great 
ability  on  both  sides,  shows  that  he  was  ever  cour- 
teous, and  that  he  held  his  own  spirit  under  such 
control,  that  rarely  could  any  annoyance  provoke 
him  to  utter  an  irritable  or  a  hasty  word. 

On  the  20th  of  December  Paul  Jones  was  intra 
duced  to  the  king.  He  presented  his  credentials, 
and  was  received  with  the  cordiality  of  established 
friendship.  The  following  letter  to  the  Minister  of 
Marine  will  show  the  style  and  literary  ability  with 
which  he  conducted  the  correspondence.  It  was 
addressed  to  "  My  Lord  Mar^chal,"  under  date  of 
February  ist,  1784. 

*'  As  I  wish  to  give  your  excellency  as  little 
trouble  as  may  be,  respecting  the  money  arising 
from  prizes  taken  by  the  squadron  I  had  the  honor 
to  command  in  Europe,  I  have  waited,  since  the 
day  you  did  me  the  honor  to  present  me  to  his 
majesty,  until  this  moment,  in  order  to  give  you 
sufficient  time  for  any  arrangement  you  might  find 
essential,  befcre  the  division  should  take  place 
between  the  ships  and  vessels  that  composed   the 


36o  PAUL  JONES. 

force  under  my  command  when  the  (^^^,  wtu 
taken. 

"  I  now  do  myself  the  honor  to  tran^imit  you  the 
enclosed  official  letter  on  that  subject,  from  Mr. 
Franklin,  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States,  containing  a  copy  of  my  credentials  as  agent 
from  Congress,  of  which  I  had  occasion  to  offer  an 
account  upon  my  arrival.  I  also  enclose  a  statement 
of  the  force,  in  guns  and  men,  of  each  ship  and  ves- 
sel that  composed  the  squadron  I  commanded, 
which  is  the  only  paper  essential  to  the  first  division 
of  the  prize-money. 

"  It  is  the  custom,  in  cases  like  the  present,  to 
multiply  the  number  of  the  crew  by  the  sum  of  the 
calibre  of  the  cannon  mounted  on  board  each  ship. 
The  product  gives  the  intrinsic  force  in  proportion 
to  which  the  share  of  the  prize-money  arising  to 
each  ship  is  determined.  On  that  ground  it  is  my 
duty  to  claim  the  proportion  arising  to  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard  and  the  Alliance.  Their  propor- 
tions will  afterward  be  divided  by  the  American  Su- 
perintendent of  Finance,  agreeably  to  the  rules  of  the 
American  navy,  between  the  officers  and  the  crews 
ol  the  two  ships. 

"  The  subdivision  of  the  shares  of  the  other  ships 
and  vessels,  in  proportion  to  their  force  in  men  and 
metal,  of  the  prizes  in  which  they  are  concerned 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY  26 1 

Will  remain  with  your  excellency  to  determine,  as 
may  be  most  agreeable  to  the  respective  officers  and 
men,  As  those  ships  and  vessels  were  entirely  his 
majesty's  property,  and  their  officers  and  men  com^ 
posed  of  French  subjects,  I  do  not  presume  to  inter- 
fere  in  their  respect  any  further  than  to  pray  youi 
excellency,  in  the  most  earnest  manner,  to  render 
them,  and  all  concerned,  that  immediate  justice  to 
which  all  Europe  knows  their  distinguished  services 
so  highly  entitle  them.  As  nearly  four  years  and  a 
half  have  already  elapsed  since  those  captures  were 
made,  I  rely  on  the  kind  promise  you  gave  me,  that 
the  prize-money  shall  now  be  immediately  settled. 

"I  am,  with   profound    respect,  my   lord    mard- 
chal,  your  most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

"John  Paul  Jones." 

The  prize  ships  had  been  sold  in  France,  and  the 
money  had  been  placed  in  the  hand  of  Monsieur  de 
Chaumont,  one  of  the  crown  officers  of  finance.  But 
the  treasury  was  in  debt  to  him.  He  therefore 
took  the  liberty  of  keeping  the  money  in  payment 
of  that  debt,  leaving  it  for  the  claimants  to  draw 
upon  the  empty  treasury  for  whatever  sum  might  be 
due  them.  In  reference  to  this  aspect  of  affairs 
Commodore  Jones  wrote  to  the  minister. 

"  Whetl<er  Monsieur  de  Chaumont  is  indebted  to 


2ft2  PAUL  JONES. 

the  government,  or  the  government  is,  as  he  says 
indebted  to  him,  is  a  matter  which  does  not  concern 
the  captors  of  the  pri-es.  But  they  have  a  right  to 
claim  the  protection  of  government  to  force  Monsieu! 
de  Chaumont  to  render  the  money,  with  interest, 
which  he  has  unjustly  detained  from  them,  for  four 
years  and  a  half,  while  many  of  them  are  perishing 
with  cold  and  hunger." 

This  point  he  successfully  carried.  He  had  very 
wisely  arranged  with  Congress  that  all  the  money  he 
might  recover  should  be  transmitted  by  him  to  the 
Congressional  treasury,  to  be  paid  by  the  minister  to 
the  individual  claimants.  According  to  the  concor- 
dat or  agreement  which  was  entered  upon  with  the 
French  government  when  the  little  squadron  sailed, 
it  was  settled : 

"  That  the  division  of  prizes  should  be  made 
agreeably  tro  the  American  laws  ;  but  that  the  pro- 
portion of  the  whole,  coming  to  each  vessel  in  the 
squadron,  should  be  regulated  by  the  minister  of  the 
Marine  Department  of  France  and  the  minister 
plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States  of  America. ' 

But  here  there  were  conflicting  principles.  By 
the  laws  of  France  a  certain  proportion  of  all  prize- 
money  was  set  apart  for  the  support  of  the  Hospital 
of  Invalids,  from  which  institution  American  sailors 
could  derive  no  benefit.     The  American  prize  law? 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  263 

gave  captors  the  whole  value  o^  ships  of  war,  and 
half  the  value  of  merchantmen.  After  long  negotia- 
tion the  French  government  yielded  this  point  also, 
and  allowed  the  distribution  to  be  made  according 
to  American  law. 

There  were,  it  will  be  remembered,  five  hundred 
British  prisoners,  captured  by  Jones,  maintained  at 
very  considerable  expense  for  some  time  by  the 
French  government,  at  the  Texel.  The  British  gov- 
ernment refused  to  surrender,  in  exchange  for  these 
men,  American  prisoners.  They  did,  howevei,  give 
up  French  prisoners,  in  exchange  for  them.  When 
Commodore  Jones  passed  over  these  men  to  the 
French  authorities,  it  was  with  the  distinct  under- 
standing that  they,  in  conference  with  the  British 
government,  should  obtain  for  them  an  equal  num- 
ber of  American  captives,  to  be  delivered  to  Commo- 
dore Jones.  But  the  spirit  of  the  British  cabinet 
was  so  implacable  toward  the  Americans,  that  the 
French  government  could  not  accomplish  this. 

Marshal  Castries  now  contended  that  the  ex- 
penses attending  the  maintenance  of  these  prisoners 
at  the  Texel,  and  their  transportation  to  England, 
should  be  deducted  from  the  prize-money.  With 
justifiable  intensity  of  purpose,  Commodore  Jones 
combated  this  claim.  Dr.  Franklin,  then  in  Paris, 
w^as  in  entire  accord  with  Commodore  Jones  upon 


:?64  PAUL  JONES. 

this  question,  as  upon  all  the  other  principles  Jones 
had  insisted  upon  in  the  adjustment.  On  the  25th 
of  March  he  wrote,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  "  Honor- 
able Paul  Jones,  Esq."  : 

"  I  certainly  should  not  have  agreed  to  charge  the 
American  captors  with  any  part  of  the  expense  of 
maintaining  the  five  hundred  prisoners  in  Holland 
till  they  could  be  exchanged,  when  none  of  them 
were  exchanged  for  the  Americans  in  England,  as 
was  your  intention,  and  as  we  both  had  been  made 
to  expect." 

The  commodore  immediately  enclosed  this  letter 
in  another,  which  he  addressed  to  Marshal  de 
Castries.     He  wrote  : 

"  The  within  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  had  the 
honor  to  receive  yesterday  from  Mr.  Franklin,  will 
convince  you  that  he  never  consented,  and  could 
not  consent,  to  the  manner  proposed  by  your  prede- 
cessor and  by  M.  de  Chaumont  for  settlement  of  the 
prize-money  due  to  the  American  officers  and  men 
who  served  under  my  orders  in  Europe. 

"  I  will  not  complain  that  the  prisoners  which  I 
took  and  carried  to  Holland  were  not  exchanged  fo! 
the  Americans,  who  had  been  taken  in  war  upon  the 
ocean,  and  were  long  confined  in  the  English  dun- 
geon g   by  civil  magistrates,  as  traitors,  pir^tts  and 


niE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  265 

felons,  I  will  only  say  /  had  such  a  promise  from  tht 
minister  of  mariyie. 

*'It  was  all  the  reward  I  asked  for  the  anxicui 
days  and  sleepless  nights  I  passed,  and  the  mary 
dangers  I  encountered  in  glad  hope  of  giving  them 
all  their  liberty.  And  if  I  had  not  been  assured  that 
Mr.  Franklin  had  made  an  infallible  arrangement 
fi'th  the  courts  of  France  and  England,  for  their 
mmediate  redemption,  nothing  but  a  superior  force 
should  have  arrested  them  out  of  my  hands,  till  they 
had  been  actually  exchanged  for  the  unhappy 
Americans  in  England." 

This  claim  the  French  government  also  yielded. 
But  still  the  weary  months  rolled  on,  and  no  pay- 
ment was  made.  The  simple  fact  was  that  there 
was  no  money  in  the  treasury.  The  government 
was  in  a  condition  of  a  man,  struggling  and  flounder- 
ing amidst  all  the  intolerable  embarrassments  of 
approaching  bankruptcy.  There  were  claims  upon 
them  vastly  more  pressing  than  the  payment  of  a 
few  thousand  livres  to  a  few  hundred  poor  foreign 
seamen.  Commodore  Jones  was  fully  aware  of  all 
this.  With  characteristic  courtesy,  kindness,  and 
yet  firmness,  he  addressed  a  letter,  as  follows,  to  the 
marshal  on  the  23d  of  June,  1785. 

**  By  the  letter  your  excellency  did  me  the  honoT 
to  write   me  on   the    13th   of  May  last,  you  were 


266  PAUL  JONES, 

pleased  to  promise  that  as  soon  as  M.  de  Chardcn 
should  have  sent  you  the  liquidation  of  my  prizes, 
which  you  expected  without  delay,  you  would  take 
measures  for  the  payment,  and  you  would  let  mc 
know. 

"  From  the  great  number  of  affairs  more  important 
that  engage  your  attention,  I  presume  this  Httle  mat- 
ter, which  concerns  me  in  a  small  degree  personally, 
but  chiefly  as  the  agent  of  the  brave  men  who  served 
under  my  orders  in  Europe,  may  have  escaped  youi 
memory.  Since  the  first  of  November,  1783,  when  I 
received  authority  to  settle  this  business  with  your 
excellency,  I  have  been  waiting  here  for  no  other 
purpose,  and  constantly  expecting  it  to  be  concluded 
from  month  to  month.  To  say  nothing  of  my  ex- 
penses during  so  long  an  interval,  the  uncertainty  of 
my  situation  has  been  of  infinite  prejudice  to  my 
other  concerns.  My  long  silence  is  a  proof  that 
nothing  but  necessity  could  have  prevailed  on  me 
to  take  the  liberty  of  reminding  your  excellency  of 
your  promise.  I  hope  for  the  honor  of  a  final  deter- 
mination, and  I  am  with  great  respect,  etc." 

Still  there  were  delays  of  the  most  anno}ing 
character  too  numerous  and  too  tedious  to  be 
narrated.  Through  all  these,  Commodore  Jones 
retained  his  equanimity,  and  commanded  the 
respect   of  those   with   whom    he  was  contending. 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  267 

The  expenses  of  Commodore  Jones,  as  agent  of  the 
United  States  at  the  court  of  Versailles,  were  neces- 
sarily considerable.  One  could  not  fill  the  post  of 
in  ambassador  there  upon  the  wages  of  a  day- 
laborer.  It  was  essential  to  his  influence,  as  he  was 
daily  brought  in  contact  with  the  ancient  nobility 
of  France,  that  he  should  maintain  the  style  of  a 
gentleman. 

At  length,  on  the  iSth  of  July,  1785,  Marshal 
Castries  issued  an  order  to  pay  to  Commodore  Jones, 
at  L'Orient  the  sum  of  one  hundred  eighty-one  thou- 
sand  and  thirty-nine  livres,  one  sous,  and  ten  der- 
niers.  Thomas  Jefferson  was  then  our  minister  at 
Paris.  In  a  letter  addressed  to  him  about  this  time, 
Jones  wrote: 

**  I  cannot  bring  myself  to  lessen  the  dividend 
of  the  American  captors  by  making  any  charge 
either  for  my  time  or  trouble.  I  lament  that  it  has 
not  been  in  my  power  to  procure  for  them  advan- 
tages as  solid  and  extensive  as  the  merit  of  their 
services.  I  would  not  have  undertaken  this  business 
from  any  views  of  private  emolument  that  could 
possibly  have  resulted  from  it  to  myself,  even  sup- 
posing I  had  recovered  a  sum  more  considerable  than 
the  penalty  of  my  bond.  The  war  being  over  I 
made  it  my  first  care  to  show  the  brave  instruments 
of  my  success  that  their  rights  are  as  dear  to  me  af 


268  PAUL  JONES. 

my  ov/n.  It  will,  I  believe,  be  proper  for  me  to 
make  oath  before  you,  to  the  amount  charged  for 
my  ordinary  expenses." 

Our  minister  received  a  salary  of  ten  thousand 
dollars  a  year.  It  required  the  most  rigid  economy, 
with  that  sum,  to  meet  expenses.  Mrs.  Adams,  the 
wife  of  our  distinguished  ambassador  John  Adams, 
in  her  letters,  gives  a  graphic  account  of  their  resi- 
dence at  the  little  village  of  Auteuil,  about  four 
miles  from  Paris.  The  house  was  large,  and  coldly 
elegant.  There  were  massive  mirrors  and  waxe 
floors,  but  no  air  of  comfort.  A  servant  polished 
the  floors  each  morning  with  a  brush  buckled  to 
one  of  his  feet.  The  expenses  of  housekeeping  were 
enormous.  A  heavy  tax  was  imposed  upon  every- 
thing. All  articles  of  domestic  use  about  thirty 
per  cent,  higher  than  in  Boston.  It  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  keep  a  coach.  The  coachman  and 
horses  cost  fifteen  guineas  a  month.  The  social 
customs  of  the  country  required  seven  servants. 
The  inevitable  expenses  of  the  family  were  so  heavy 
that  it  required  all  Mrs.  Adams's  remarkable  finan 
cial  skill  to  save  them  from  pecuniary  ruin.  The 
humble  style  in  which  they  lived,  compared  with  the 
splendor  with  which  the  other  foreign  ministen 
ifttc   surrounded,  often   caused   mortification.     Mr 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  26q 

jsy  was  compelled  to  resign,  since  he  could  net  sup- 
port himself  upon  his  salary. 

Such  were  the  surroundings  of  Commodore  Jones 
^.  his  arduous  mission.  And  yet  he  practised  such 
rigid  economy,  that  he  charged  but  five  thousand 
dollars  a  year  for  all  his  services  and  expenses. 
Franklin  and  Jefferson  both  carefully  examined  his 
accounts  and  gave  them  their  approval.  They  were 
then  sent  to  Congress,  where  they  were  again  sub- 
jected to  a  rigid  scrutiny,  and  were  again  approved. 
Not  long  after,  on  the  i6th  of  October,  1787,  Con- 
gress passed  the  following  vote : 

"  Resolved  unanimously,  that  a  medal  of  gold  be 
struck  and  presented  to  the  Chevalier  John  Pa'j] 
Jones,  in  commemoration  of  the  valor  and  brilliant 
services  of  that  officer,  in  the  command  of  the  squad- 
ron of  American  and  French  ships,  under  the  flag  and 
commission  of  the  United  States,  off  the  coast  of 
Great  Britain,  in  the  late  war;  and  that  the  Honor- 
able Mr.  Jefferson,  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the 
United  States  at  the  court  of  Versailles,  have  the 
same  executed  with  the  proper  devices.*' 

At  the  same  time,  Congress  commended  Com 
modore  Jones  to  the  special  regard  of  the  king  of 
France,  and   solicited  permission  for  him  to  embark 
iTi  the  French  fleets  of   evolution,  convinced    that 
he  can  nowhere  else  so  well  acquire  that  knowledge 


a;o  PAUL  JONES. 

which  may  hereafter  render  him  more  extensivelj 
useful." 

The  commodore,  with  his  intense  views  of  life's 
duties,  never  found  time  for  conviviality  or  any  dissi- 
pating pleasures.  He  employed  his  otherwise  unoc- 
cupied hours  in  writing  a  very  carefully  prepared 
narrative  of  his  past  services.  This  was  not  printed, 
but  was  read  in  manuscript  by  many  distinguished 
personages.  The  illustrious  Malesherbes,  after  read- 
ing the  journal,  wrote  as  follows  to  Mr.  Jones : 

**  I  have  received  with  much  gratitude  the  mark 
of  confidence  which  you  have  given  me  ;  and  I  have 
read,  with  great  eagerness  and  pleasure,  the  interest- 
ing relation.  My  first  impression  was  to  desire  you 
to  have  it  published.  But  after  having  read  it,  I 
perceive  that  you  had  not  written  it  with  a  view  to 
publication,  because  there  are  things  in  it  which  are 
written  to  the  king,  for  whom  alone  that  work  was 
intended.  However  actions,  memorable  as  yours 
are,  ought  to  be  made  known  to  the  world,  by  an 
authentic  journal  published  in  your  own  name.  I 
earnestly  entreat  you  to  work  at  it  as  soon  as  youi 
affairs  will  allow.  In  the  meantime,  I  hope  that  the 
king  will  read  this  work  with  that  attention  which 
he  owes  to  the  relation  of  the  services  which  had 
been  rendered  to  him  by  a  person  so  celebrated.'* 

While   these    scenes    were    transpiring,  the   re- 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  27 1 

aowned  American  traveller,  John  Ledyard,  was  in 
Paris.  He  proposed  to  Commodore  Jones  a  com- 
mercial speculation,  upon  a  scale  of  grandeur  likely 
to  interest  his  mind,  and  which  would  call  into 
requisition  all  his  administrative  energies  and  ac- 
quired information  and  skill. 

The  plan  was  to  fit  out  a  vessel  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  tons,  to  be  thoroughly  armed  and  equipped, 
with  forty-five  oflficers  and  men,  to  be  selected  in 
France.  She  was  to  sail,  on  the  first  day  of  October, 
for  Cape  Horn,  and  thence  to  the  Sandwich  Islands. 
There  she  was  to  take  in  new  stores  of  provisions, 
and  continue  her  route  to  the  northwest  coast  of 
North  America.  She  was  to  remain  from  April  to 
October,  running  up  and  down  the  coast,  purchas 
ing  furs  of  the  Indians. 

Having  filled  the  vessel,  they  were  to  make  sail 
across  the  Pacific,  for  China  or  Japan.  The  rich  furs 
would  there  bring  a  great  price.  They  were  to  be 
sold  for  gold  or  other  commodities.  With  this  gold 
and  merchandise  the  ship  was  to  return  to  France, 
by  way  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  It  was  thought 
that  the  whole  voyage  would  occupy  about  eighteen 
months.  After  a  very  close  calculation  it  was  esti- 
mated that  the  profits  of  the  enterprise  would 
amount  to  a  little  over  one  hundred  and  eighty 
thousand  dollars. 


f;?  PAUL  JONES. 

Such  was  the  plan  in  general,  subject  to  various 
modifications,  such  as  whether  one  vessel  should  go 
alone,  or  whether  two  should  go  in  company.  It 
was  by  a  somewhat  similar  commercial  enterprise 
that  John  Jacob  Astor  subsequently  laid  the  foun- 
dation of  his  colossal  fortune. 

There  was  much  to  recommend  this  plan  to  en- 
thusiastic  and  enterprising  men.  Its  novelty  lent  a 
great  charm.  It  was  considered  that  the  risks  were 
small,  decidedly  less  than  those  which  usually  at- 
tended voyages  to  the  East  or  West  Indies.  The 
expense  of  the  armament,  and  the  cargo  of  trinkets, 
small  ware,  and  cutlery,  for  traffic  with  the  Indians, 
was  very  inconsiderable.  It  was  well  known  that 
the  northwest  coast  of  America  abounded  in  the 
richest  furs,  above  all  other  regions  in  the  world. 
These  furs  could  be  purchased  for  a  mere  trifle  from 
the  Indians.  In  China  and  Japan  they  would  com- 
mand extravagant  prices. 

Jefferson  was  deeply  interested  in  this  plan.  In 
his  mind,  as  in  that  of  Paul  Jones,  it  assumed  a  dig- 
nity far  above  that  of  a  mere  money-making  enter- 
prise. It  would  extend  our  knowledge  of  those  vast 
regions,  with  their  wild  inhabitants,  which  both  of 
these  sagacious  men  foresaw  would  eventually  be 
included  within  the  limits  of  the  American  Union 
Paul  Jones  was  to  have  the  supreme  command,  and 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  27^ 

by  his  powerfu!  influence  was  to  obtain  the  vessel 
and  the  outfit.     Ledyard  was  to  be  supercargo. 

As  they  pondered  the  plan,  aided  by  the  cool 
judgment  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  it  assumed  ever-increas- 
ing proportions.  A  trading  post  was  to  be  estab- 
lished, strongly  stockaded  and  well  garrisoned.  Tiie 
Indians  were  to  be  treated  with  the  greatest  justice 
and  humanity,  so  as  to  secure  their  good-will. 
There  were  to  be  two  vessels  employed,  one  of 
which  should  always  be  on  the  coast.  Siiks  and 
tea?  were  to  be  purchased,  upon  which  there  would 
be  ar  additional  profit  in  Europe. 

The  plan  was  manifestly  so  feasible  and  so  full 
of  promise,  that  it  was  necessary  to  keep  it  as  secret 
as  possible,  lest  many  others  should  embark  in  the 
same  enterprise,  and  the  rivalry  should  become 
great.  Indeed,  there  were  rumors,  which  reached 
Mr.  Jones*s  ears,  that  there  were  other  parties  con- 
templating a  similar  movement.  He  wrote  to  Dr. 
Bancroft  upon  the  subject.  He  replied,  under  date 
of  September  9th,  1785  : 

*'  I  endeavored,  as  early  as  possible,  to  gain  infor- 
mation  respecting  the  object  of  your  inquir>\  But 
it  was  a  difficult  matter,  none  of  my  acquaintance 
knowing  anything  more  of  it  than  what  had  appeared 
in  the  public  papers.  Yesterday,  however,  I  waa 
•nformed,  by  a  gentleman  who  I  believe  has  some 


274  f  AUL  JONES. 

more  knowledge  of  the  fact,  that  the  two  vessels. 
King  George  and  Queen  Charlotte,  have  actually 
sailed  on  the  expedition  which  was  thought  of  by 
Mr.  Ledyard,  for  furs,  which  I  should  suppose  must 
interfere  with,  and  very  much  lessen  the  profits  ol 
any  simular  undertaking  by  others." 

Mr.  Jones  wrote  to  Madrid,  and  was  informed 
that  the  court  of  Spain  would  not  allow  any  com- 
mercial speculation  in  the  neighborhood  of  California, 
by  the  subjects  of  any  other  nation  than  her  own.  It 
is  supposed  that  this  fact  mainly  led  to  the  abandon- 
ment of  the  scheme.  There  may  have  been,  and 
probably  were,  other  considerations.  But  we  hear  of 
the  enterprise  no  more. 

The  reader  will  remember  that  there  were  three 
prizes  sent  by  Landais  to  Norway,  and  that  the 
Danish  government  restored  them  to  the  British 
ambassador  upon  the  ground  that  the  vessels  had 
been  captured  by  a  people  not  recognized  by  them 
as  an  independent  government.  This  was  sustain- 
ing the  British  claim,  that  Jones  was  not  a  legiti- 
mate naval  officer,  but  a  mere  pirate,  whom  they 
would  be  justified  in  hanging  could  they  catch  him. 
Every  officer  in  the  colonial  army  and  navy,  in  the 
view  of  the  British  government,  stood  upon  the 
«ame  platform. 

The  prizes  thus  lost  to  us  at  Copenhagen  were 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  2/5 

valued  at  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
This  was  five-fold  the  amount  recovered  from  the 
prizes  sent  into  France.  Upon  the  threatened  sur- 
render  of  these  prizes,  Dr.  Franklin  immediately  sent 
a  memorial  to  Count  Bernstorf,  the  Danish  prime 
minister.  This  admirable  state  paper  contained  the 
following  very  characteristic  sentences.  After  reca- 
pitulating the  circumstances  of  the  case,  he  adds : 

**  Permit  me,  sir,  to  observe  on  this  occasion,  that 
the  United  States  of  America  have  no  war  but  with 
the  English.  They  have  never  done  any  injury  to 
other  nations,  particularly  none  to  the  Danish  nation. 
On  the  contrary,  they  are  in  some  degree  its  benefac- 
tors, as  they  have  opened  a  trade  of  which  the  Eng- 
lish made  a  monopoly,  and  of  which  the  Danes  may 
now  have  their  share  ;  and  by  dividing  the  British 
empire  have  made  it  less  dangerous  to  its  neighbors. 
They  conceived  that  every  nation  whom  they  had  not 
offended  was,  by  the  rights  of  humanity,  their  friend. 
They  confided  in  the  hospitality  of  Denmark,  and 
thought  themselves  and  their  property  safe  when 
rnder  the  roof  of  his  Danish  majesty. 

"  But  they  find  themselves  stripped  of  that  pro- 
perty, and  the  same  given  up  to  their  enemies,  on 
the  principle  only  that  no  acknowledgment  had  yet 
been  formally  made,  by  Denmark,  of  the  indepen- 
dence of  the  United  States;  which   is  to  say  thai 


Jjf)  PAUL  JONES. 

there  is  no  obligation  of  justice  toward  any  nation, 
with  whom  a  treaty,  promising  the  same,  has  not 
been  made.  This  was  indeed  the  doctrine  of  ancient 
barbarians ;  a  doctrine  long  since  exploded,  and 
which  it  would  not  be  for  the  honor  of  the  present 
age  to  revive.  And  it  is  hoped  that  Denmark  will 
not,  by  supporting  and  persisting  in  this  decision, 
obtained  of  his  majesty  apparently  by  surprise,  be 
the  first  modern  nation  that  shall  attempt  to 
revive  it. 

**  The  United  States,  oppressed  by,  and  in  war 
with  one  of  the  most  powerful  nations  of  Europe, 
may  well  be  supposed  incapable,  in  their  present 
infant  state,  of  exacting  justice  from  other  nations  not 
disposed  to  grant  it.  But  it  is  in  human  nature, 
that  injuries  as  well  as  benefits,  received  in  times  of 
v/eakness  and  distress,  national  as  well  as  personal, 
make  deep  and  lasting  impressions.  And  those 
ministers  are  wise  who  look  into  futurity,  and  quench 
the  first  sparks  of  misunderstanding  between  two 
nations,  which  neglected,  may  in  time  grow  into  a 
fiame,  all  the  consequences  whereof  no  human 
prudence  can  foresee,  which  may  produce  much  mis- 
chief to  both,  and  cannot  possibly  produce  any 
good  to  either. 

**  I  beg,  through  your  excellency,  to  submit  thes? 
considerations     to    the    wisdom    and    justice     ci 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  2'JJ 

his  Danish  majesty,  whom  I  infinitely  respect^ 
and  who,  I  hope,  will  consider  and  repeal  the  order 
above  recited  ;  and,  if  the  prizes  which  I  hereby  re- 
claim, in  behalf  of  the  United  States  of  America,  are 
not  actually  gone  to  England,  that  they  may  be 
stopped  and  redelivered  to  M.  de  Chezaulx,  the  con- 
sul of  France,  at  Bergen,  in  whose  care  they  were 
before,  with  liberty  to  depart  for  America,  when  the 
season  shall  permit.  But  if  they  shall  be  already 
gone  to  England,  I  must  then  reclaim  from  his  ma- 
jesty's  equity  the  value  of  the  said  three  prizes,  which 
is  estimated  at  fifty  thousand  pounds  sterling,  but 
which  may  be  regulated  by  the  best  information 
that  can,  by  any  means,  be  obtained." 

The  three  prizes  thus  surrendered,  were  the 
Betsey,  the  Union,  and  the  Charming  Polly.  Mr. 
Jones  had  been  so  successful  in  his  negociations  with 
France,  that  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  send  him 
to  Copenhagen  to  seek  redress  from  the  Danish 
court.  He  obtained  the  works  of  Grotius,  and  all 
other  eminent  writers  upon  the  La\\  of  Nations,  and, 
aided  by  Thomas  Jefferson,  made  himself  familiar 
with  all  the  principles  involved  in  the  questions  at 
issue.  Thus  thoroughly  equipped,  he  entered  upon 
this  new  and  difi[icult  enterprise.  In  every  move- 
ment of  importance,  at  this  time,  Paul  Jones  confer- 
red  v/ith  his  highly  valued  friends,  Thomas  Jeffers^-a 


27S  PAUL  JONES. 

and  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  acted  with  their  concur 
rence.  A  little  before  this,  the  Danish  government 
had  so  far  recognized  the  injustice  of  its  acts,  and 
the  validity  of  our  claim,  as  to  offer  to  pay  an  in 
dcmnity  of  forty  thousand  dollars.  Dr.  Franklin  >?e- 
clined  this  offer  upon  the  ground  that  the  fair  value  ot 
the  prizes  should  be  first  ascertained.  It  was  thought 
best  that  Commodore  Jones  should  repair,  at  once^ 
to  Copenhagen. 

He  left  Paris,  with  this  purpose,  in  the  spring  of 
1787.  At  Brussels  he  failed  to  receive  an  expected 
remittance  from  the  sale  of  some  bank  stock  he  had 
ordered  in  America.  Thus  he  found  himself  out  of 
funds.  This  induced  him  to  turn  back,  and  take 
passage  to  the  United  States,  to  inquire  into  the 
condition  of  his  pecuniary  affairs.  He  speedily  at- 
tended to  his  private  concerns  and  prepared  to 
return  to  Europe.  Fully  aware  of  the  difficulty  of 
his  mission,  he  was  anxious  to  fortify  himself  with  all 
those  moral  forces  which  could  add  to  his  influence. 
He  wrote  to  Honorable  John  Jay,  our  Minister  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  soliciting  from  him  such  testimosials 
as  would  commend  him  to  the  Danish  court.  His 
letter  was  dated  New  York,  July  1 8th,  1787.  It 
was  easy  for  his  enemies  to  represent  this  as  an  act 
of  mere  vanity.  Perhaps  it  was.  But  it  was  cer- 
tainly an  a^t  of  \^isdom,  thus  to  endeavor  to  secure 


THE  DIFFICULTIES  OF  DIPLOMACY.  279 

the  confidence  and  good-will  of  the  court,  to  which 
he  was  commissioned  for  the  performance  of  duties 
so  arduous.  In  the  conclusion  of  his  letter  to  Mr. 
lay,  he  wrote  : 

"Since  the  year  1775,  when  I  displayed  the 
American  flag,  for  the  first  time,  with  my  own  hands, 
I  have  been  constantly  devoted  to  the  interests  of 
America.  Foreigners  have  perhaps  given  me  too 
much  credit.  This  may  have  raised  my  ideas  of 
my  services  above  their  real  value.  But  my  zeal 
can  never  be  overrated. 

"  I  should  act  inconsistently,  if  I  omitted  to 
mention  the  dreadful  situation  of  our  citizens  in 
Algiers.  Their  almost  hopeless  fate  is  a  deep  re- 
flection on  our  national  character  in  Europe.  I 
beg  leave  to  influence  the  humanity  of  Congress  in 
their  behalf,  and  to  propose  that  some  expedient 
may  be  adopted  for  their  redemption.  A  fund 
might  be  raised,  for  that  purpose,  by  a  duty  of  a 
shilling  per  month  from  seamen's  wages,  throughout 
the  continent,  and  I  am  persuaded  that  ne  difficulty 
would  be  made  to  that  requisition. 


CHAPTER  Xlli. 

The  Mission  to  Denmark. 

C^t^T  to  Mr.  Jeflerson. — The  Marquise  de  Marsan. — UnfouadeO 
Charges  and  Vindication. — Flattering  Application  from  Cathe- 
rine II. — I  lis  Reception  at  the  Polish  Court. — Jones  receives  the 
Title  of  Rear-Admiral. — English  Insolence. — Letter  of  Cathe 
rinc  II. 

Just  before  Mr.  Jones  left  Europe,  he  transmit- 
ted a  letter  to  Congress,  informing  them  that  the 
piratic  regency  of  Algiers  had  armed  eight  war  ves- 
sels, carrying  from  eighteen  to  thirty-four  guns  each, 
which  were  to  cruise  between  Cape  St.  Vincent  and 
the  Azores,  to  capture  American  ships.  The  French 
minister,  M.  Soulanges,  at  Toulon,  had  ascertained 
this  fact,  and  very  kindly,  immediately  communica- 
ted it  to  Mr.  Jones.  In  writing  to  Mr.  Jefferson  upon 
the  subject,  the  commodore  said  : 

**  This  event  may,  I  believe,  surprise  some  of  ouj 
fellow-citizens.  But,  for  my  part,  I  am  rather  sur 
prised  that  it  did  not  take  place  sooner.  It  will  pro 
duce  a  good  effect,  if  it  unites  the  people  of  America 
in  measures  consistent  with  their  national  honor  and 
interest,  and  rouses  them  from  that  ill-judged  secu 


THE  MISSION  TO  DENMARK.  2«1 

fity,  which  the  intoxication  of  success  has  produccLi 
since  the  revolution." 

One  of  his  most  valued  lady  friends  in  France,  a 
daughter  of  Louis  XV.,  wrote  to  him,  in  deepest 
iffliction.  Though  a  daughter  of  the  king,  and  ai 
such  enjoying  high  rank,  she  was  not  regarded  as  a 
member  of  the  royal  family.  The  king  bestowed  a 
large  fortune  upon  the  mother,  on  the  daughter's 
account.  The  father  died  when  the  daughter,  who 
was  a  great  favorite  of  his,  was  very  young.  The 
mother  then  greatly  neglected  this  child  of  a  royal 
sire,  treating  her  neither  with  natural  affection  nor 
justice.  This  young  lady  was  adopted  by  the  Mar- 
quise de  Marsan,  who  became  to  her  as  a  mother, 
and  introduced  her  to  the  highest  society  of  the 
court. 

She  was  very  happily  married  to  M.  Tellison,  a 
very  worthy  gentleman,  but  without  fortune.  In  this 
virtuous  family,  Commodore  Jones  had  found,  in  hit 
lonely  hours  in  Paris,  a  congenial  and  happy  home. 
The  aged  marquise  regarded  the  young  hero  as  het 
own  son.  Monsieur  and  Madame  Tellison  treated 
him  with  truly  fraternal  affection.  Their  little  boy 
was  a  great  favorite  of  the  commodore,  as  he  fondled 
him  upon  his  knee,  and  lavished  caresses  upon  him. 

Man  is  born  to  mourn.  The  day  of  sorrow  came 
to  this  united  and  x^appy  family.     On  the  23d  of 


282  PAUL  JONES, 

June,  1787,  Madame  Tellison  wrote  to  Paul  Jones,  in 
New  York,  informing  him  of  the  sudden  death  of 
her  friend  and  protectress,  the  Marquise  de  Marsan, 
and  of  consequently  a  great  reverse  in  their  pecuni- 
ary condition.  Jones,  writing  to  Dr.  Bancroft  in 
London,  alluding  to  this  event,  said: 

**  This  is  also  a  great  grief  and  loss  to  me,  as  I 
had  in  that  lady  a  valuable  friend." 

The  letter  Madame  Tellison  had  written  to  Mr„ 
Jones,  was  forwarded  to  him  by  Thomas  Jeffersoa 
He  immediately  wrote  to  Mr.  Jefferson  as  follows: 

"  The  letter  you  sent  me,  left  the  feeling  authoi 
all  in  tears.  Her  friend,  her  protectress,  her  intro- 
ductress  to  the  king,  was  suddenly  dead.  She  was 
in  despair.  She  lost  more  than  a  mother.  A  loss 
indeed  that  nothing  can  repair;  for  fortune  and 
favor  are  never  to  be  compared  to  tried  friendship. 
I  hope,  however,  she  has  gone  to  visit  the  king  in 
July,  agreeably  to  his  appointment  given  to  her  in 
the  month  of  March.  I  am  persuaded  that  he 
would  receive  her  with  additional  kindness,  and  that 
her  loss  would,  in  his  mind,  be  a  new  claim  to  protec- 
tion ;  especially  as  he  well  knows  and  has  acknowl 
edged  her  superior  merit  and  just  pretensions. 

"  As  I  feel  the  greatest  concern  for  the  situation 
of  this  worthy  lady,  you  will  render  me  a  great  favor 
by  writing  a  note  requesting  her  to  call  on    you 


THE   MISSION   TO   DENMARK.  283 

ts  you  have  something  to  communicate  from  me- 
vVhen  she  comes,  be  so  good  as  to  delivei  her  the 
•Arithin  letter,  and  show  her  this;  that  she  may 
5ee  both  my  confidence  in  you  and  my  advice 
to  her." 

The  enclosed  letter,  full  of  gushing  sympathies, 
was  as  follows.  It  was  dated  New  York,  Septem- 
ber 4th,  1787. 

"  No  language  can  convey  to  the  fair  mourner 
the  tender  sorrow  I  feel  on  her  account.  The  loss 
of  our  worthy  friend  is,  indeed,  a  fatal  stroke!  It 
is  an  irreparable  misfortune,  which  can  only  be  alle- 
viated  by  this  one  reflection,  that  it  is  the  will  of  God, 
whose  providence  has,  I  hope,  other  blessings  in 
store  for  us.  She  was  a  tried  friend  and  more  than 
a  mother  to  you.  She  would  have  been  a  mother 
to  me  also,  had  she  lived.  We  have  lost  her.  Let 
us  cherish  her  memory  and  send  up  grateful  thanks 
to  the  Almighty  that  we  once  had  such  a  friend. 

"  I  cannot  but  flatter  myself  that  you  have  your- 
self  gone  to  the  king,  in  July,  as  he  had  appointed 
I  am  sure  your  loss  will  be  a  new  inducement  for 
him  to  protect  you  and  render  you  justice.  He  will 
hear  you,  I  am  sure.  You  may  safely  unbosom 
yourself  to  him  and  ask  his  advice,  which  cannot  but 
be  flattering  for  him  to  give  you.  Tell  him  you 
-Rust  look  on  him  as  your  father  and  protector.     If 


.284  PAUL  JONKS. 

it  were  necessar)-  I  think  too  that  the  Count  d'At 
tois,*    his  brother,   would,   on  your  personal   appli 
cation,  render  you  good  offices  by  speaking  ir   youf 
favor.     I  should  Hkc  it  better,  however,  if  you  (  in  do 
without  him. 

"  I  am  almost  without  money,  and  much  pi  zzled 
to  obtain  a  supply.  I  mention  this  with  ii  finite 
regret,  and  for  no  other  reason  than  because  it  is 
impossible  for  me  to  transmit  you  a  supply,  mdcr 
my  present  circumstances.  This  is  my  fifth  etter 
to  you  since  I  left  Paris.  The  two  last  were  from 
France.  But  you  say  nothing  of  having  rec»  ived 
any  letters  from  me.  Summon,  my  dear  frien  1,  all 
your  resolution.  Exert  yourself  and  plead  youi  own 
cause.  You  cannot  fail  of  success.  Your  c  luse 
would  move  a  heart  of  flint.  Present  my  best 
respects  to  your  sister.  You  did  not  mention  her  in 
vour  letter.  But  I  persuade  myself  she  will  #on- 
tinue  her  tender  care  of  her  sweet  godson,  md 
that  you  will  cover  him  all  over  with  kisses  fron  me 
They  come  warm  to  you  both,  from  the  heart.' 

While  in  New  York  he  heard  very'  ungen*  tous 
complaints  that  his  charge  for  services  in  recovc  ring 
the  prize-money  was  exorbitant.  Earnestly  seel'ing 
the  good-will  of  his  fellow-citizens,  these  reproaches 
pained  him.     He  wrote  upon  the  subject  as  folloifs 

•  SubsequenUy  Chaxle*  X 


THE   MISSION  1X>  DENMARK.  285 

•'  The  settlement  I  made,  with  the  court  01 
France,  had  first  Dr.  Frankhn's,  and  afterwards  Mr. 
Jefferson's  approbation,  in  every  stage  and  article  of 
the  business.  And  I  presume  it  will  be  found,  so 
far  as  depended  on  me,  to  merit  that  of  the  United 
States.  In  France  I  was  received  and  treated  by 
the  king  and  his  ministers,  as  a  general  officer,  and 
a  special  minister  from  Congress.  The  credit  with 
which  I  was  honored  as  an  officer,  in  the  opinion  of 
Europe,  and  the  personal  intimacy  I  have  with  many 
great  characters  at  Paris,  with  my  exclusive  knowl- 
edge of  all  circumstances  relative  to  the  business, 
insured  me  a  success  which  no  other  man  could  have 
obtained.  My  situation  subjected  me  to  consider- 
able expense.  I  went  to  court  much  oftener,  and 
mixed  with  the  great  much  more  frequently  than 
our  minister  plenipotentiar>\  Yet  the  gentlemen  in 
that  situation  consider  their  salary  of  two  thousand 
pounds  sterling  a  year  as  scarcely  adequate  to  their 
expenses." 

His  busy  mind  was  ever  fertile  in  expedients  toi 
the  public  welfare.  In  urging  upon  Congress  im» 
mediate  and  effectual  measures  for  the  rescue  of  the 
unhappy  American  captives  in  piratic  and  barbaric 
Algiers,  he  had  urged  the  establishment  of  a  fund  for 
that  object.  He  also  urged  that,  from  this  fund,  a 
great  national  hospital  should  be  established,  for  the 


i.S6  PAUL  JONES. 

bcrefit  of  invalid  seamen,  on  the  plan  of  the  renowned 
Greenwich  Hospital  in  England,  and  the  still  more 
far-famed  Hotel  des  Invalides  in  Paris. 

On  the  nth  of  November,  Mr.  Jones  sailed  from 
New  York  on  his  mission  to  Denmark.  Unfavora- 
ble weather  caused  the  ship  to  put  into  Dover  early 
in  December,  1787.  He  repaired  to  London  and 
spent  a  few  days  with  our  minister  at  the  court  of 
St.  James,  Honorable  John  Adams.  He  proceeded 
to  Paris,  where  he  arrived  on  the  nth  of  the  month. 
For  some  unexplained  reason  he  did  not  wish  to 
have  the  fact  of  his  arrival  noised  abroad.  The  day 
After  he  reached  Paris,  he  had  a  private  interview 
with  Mr.  Jefferson.  In  this  interview  he  received 
the  startling  and  flattering  announcement,  that  the 
Empress  of  Russia  was  anxious  to  engage  his  ser- 
vices as  an  officer,  in  the  v/ar  she  was  then  carrying  on 
against  the  Turks.  M.  Simolin,  the  Russian  ambas- 
sador at  Versailles,  had  been  instructed  to  apply  to 
Mr.  Jones,  through  Mr.  Jefferson,  to  see  if  the  ser- 
vices of  the  chevalier  could  be  engaged  as  an  officer 
in  her  navy.  While  this  plan  was  under  considera- 
tion, he  called  upon  several  of  the  French  ministers, 
from  whom  he  m^et  a  very  cordial  reception. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1788,  after  a  long  and  fa- 
tiguing \Mnter  journey,  Mr.  Jones  reached  Copen- 
hagen.    He  was  then  but  forty  years  of  age.     His 


THE   MISSION   TO   DENMARK.  287 

health,  however,  was  much  impaired  by  the  cares, 
toil,  and  exposure  of  his  stormy  life.  Soon  after  hia 
arrival  he  breakfasted  with  the  chamberlain  of  the 
king  of  Poland,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  Mr 
Simolin,  the  Russian  ambassador.  He  informcf! 
Mr.  Jones,  that  in  consequence  of  the  knowledge 
which  the  empress  had  obtained  of  his  character, 
she  wished  him  to  take  com.mand  of  her  fleet  in  the 
Black  Sea,  and  that  she  would  soon  make  to  him 
advantageous  proposals.  After  the  Russian  ambas- 
sador  had  retired,  the  chamberlain,  whose  guest  the 
commodore  was,  informed  him  that  Mr.  Simolin  had 
written  to  the  empress : 

"  If  your  Imperial  Majesty  will  confide  to  Com- 
modore Jones  the  chief  command  on  the  Black  Sea, 
with  carte  blanche,  I  will  answer  for  it,  that,  in  less 
than  a  year  he  will  make  Constantinople  tremble." 

Soon  after  this  he  was  presented  to  the  royal 
family,  to  all  of  the  corps  diplomatique,  and  to  many 
other  distinguished  personages  of  the  court.  In 
speaking  of  his  reception  by  the  king,  the  queer, 
dowager,  and  the  young  prince  and  princess  royal 
he  wrote : 

■^  The  queen  dowager  conversed  with  me  foi 
some  time,  and  said  the  most  civil  things.  Hef 
majesty  has  a  dignity  of  person  and  deportment 
which  become  her  well,  and  which  she  has  the  secret 


288  PAUL  JOKES. 

to  reconcile  with  great  affability  and  ease.  Tht 
princess  royal  is  a  charming  person  ;  and  the  graces 
are  so  much  her  own,  that  it  is  impossible  to  set 
and  converse  with  her  without  paying  her  the  horn 
age  which  artless  beauty  and  good-nature  will  ever 
command.  All  the  royal  family  spoke  to  me  except 
the  king,  who  speaks  to  no  person  when  presented. 
His  majesty  saluted  me  with  great  complaisance  at 
first,  and  as  often  afterwards  as  we  met  in  the  course 
of  the  evening.  The  prince  royal  is  greatly  beloved, 
and  extremely  affable.  He  asked  me  a  number  of 
pertinent  questions  respecting  America.  I  had  the 
honor  to  be  invited  to  sup  with  his  majesty  and  the 
royal  family,  The  company  at  table,  consisting  of 
seventy  ladies  and  gentlemen,  including  the  royal 
family,  the  ministers  of  state,  and  foreign  ambassa- 
dors, was  very  brilliant. 

Very  earnestly  Commodore  Jones  engaged  in 
the  object  of  his  mission.  He  had  a  double  motive 
to  impel  him  to  make  all  possible  haste.  In  addi- 
tion to  the  natural  desire  to  close  up  the  business, 
which  had  been  thus  Hngering  for  years,  he  was  now 
daily  expecting  offers  of  employment  from  the  Em- 
press of  Russia,  which  it  might  be  greatly  for  his 
interest  to  accept.  The  Algerines,  those  merciless 
pirates  of  all  seas,  were  united  with  the  Turks  of 
Constantinople,  m  their  warfare  against  Russia,     A» 


THE   MISSION   TO   DENMARK,  28<J 

opportunity  might  thus  be  afforded  him  to  strike  a 
blow  for  the  liberation  of  the  American  captives 
This  was  an  object  very  near  his  heart. 

There  is  power  in  an  illustrious  name.  Thr 
achievements  of  Commodore  Jones  were  well  knowr 
at  Copenhagen.  He  had  received  a  golden  medal, 
for  his  services,  from  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  The  king  of  France  had  honored  him  with 
a  gold-headed  sword,  and  had  conferred  upon  him 
the  distinguished  honor  of  constituting  him  a  Knight 
of  the  Order  of  Military  Merit.  It  was  also  known 
that  he  had  won  the  esteem  of  the  most  distinguished 
men  in  Paris,  and  was  an  honored  guest  in  the  high- 
est circles  of  the  court.  These  considerations  were 
all  elements  of  power,  of  which  Mr.  Jones  very 
wisely  availed  himself.  In  urging  the  Danish  min- 
ister, Count  de  Bernstorf,  to  a  prompt  decision,  Mr, 
Jones  wrote  under  date  of  March  24th  : 

*'  The  promise  you  have  given  me  of  a  prompt  and 
explicit  decision,  from  this  court,  inspires  me  with 
full  confidence.  I  have  been  very  particular  in  com- 
municating to  the  United  States  all  the  polite  atten- 
tions with  which  I  have  been  honored  at  this  court. 
And  they  will  learn,  with  great  pleasure,  the  kind 
reception  I  have  had  from  you.  I  felicitated  myself 
on  being  the  instrument  to  settle  the  delicate 
national  business  in  question,  with  a  minister  who 


390  PAUL  JONES. 

conciliates  the  views  of  the  wise  statesman  with  ths 
noblest  sentiments  and  cultivated  mind  of  the  true 
philosopher  and  man  of  letters." 

If  any  one  regards  this  as  excessive  in  its  com 
plimentary  tone,  as  it  certainly  appears  to  be,  let 
him  read  the  next  letter  to  Count  Bernstort,  after 
a  delay  of  six  days,  which  indicates  that  he  could 
deal  with  other  coin  besides  that  of  laudation. 
This  letter  was  dated  March  30th. 

**  Your  silence  on  the  subject  of  my  mission  from 
the  United  States  to  this  court,  leaves  me  in  the 
most  painful  suspense  ;  the  more  so  as  I  have  made 
your  excellency  acquainted  with  the  promise  I  am 
under,  to  proceed,  as  soon  as  possible,  to  St.  Peters- 
burg. This  being  the  ninth  year  since  the  three 
prizes  reclaimed  by  the  United  States,  were  seized 
upon  in  the  port  of  Bergen,  in  Norway,  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  this  court  has  long  since  taken  an 
ultimate  resolution  respecting  the  compensation 
demand  made  by  Congress. 

*'  Though  I  am  extremely  sensible  of  the  favor- 
able reception  with  which  I  have  been  distinguished 
at  this  court,  and  am  particularly  flattered  by  the 
polite  attentions  with  which  you  have  honored 
me,  at  every  conference,  yet  I  have  remarked 
with  great  concern,  that  you  have  never  led  the 
conversation  to  the  object  of  my  mission  here. 


TliE   MISSION   TC    DENMAkJL  29 1 

**  A  man  of  your  liberal  sentiments  will  not  there- 
fore be  surprised,  or  offended  at  my  plain  dealing 
when  I  repeat  that  I  impatiently  expect  a  promj)t 
and  categorical  answer,  in  writing,  from  this  couit 
to  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  25th  of  October  last. 
Both  my  duty,  and  the  circumstances  of  my  situation, 
coustrain  me  to  make  this  demand  in  the  name  of 
my  sovereign  the  United  States  of  America. 

**  But  I  beseech  you  to  beHeve  that  though  I  am 
extremely  tenacious  of  the  honor  of  the  American 
flag,  yet  my  personal  interests  in  the  decision  1 
now  ask,  would  never  have  induced  me  to  present 
myself  at  this  court.  You  are  too  just,  sir,  to  delay 
my  business  here,  which  would  put  me  under  the 
necessity  to  break  the  promise  I  have  made  to  her 
imperial  majesty,  conformable  to  your  advice." 

To  this  very  decisive  communication  the  minister 
returned  an  answer  full  of  compliments  and  full  of 
evasions.  The  king  had  no  money  to  spare.  Yet  he 
was  very  desirous  of  securing  the  friendship  of  the 
United  States,  that  he  might  enter  into  a  commer- 
cial treaty,  which  would  be  of  great  benefit  to  Den- 
mark. Amidst  a  vast  mass  of  verbiage  the  commodore 
was  informed  that  the  king  thought  it  best  to  dcfct 
a  final  settlement  until  the  Constitution  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  was  fully  established ;  that  a  settlement 
could  only  be  made    with  an  ambassador  invested 


^2  PAUL  JONES. 

with  plenipotentiary  powers ;  and  that,  as  the  iiega 
tiations  were  commenced  with  the  United  States 
ministers  in  Paris,  it  was  not  expedient  to  transfer 
the  seat  of  the  suspended  negociation  from  Paris  to 
Copenhagen.  In  conclusion,  he  begged  Commodore 
Jones  to  assure  the  government  of  the  United  States 
of  the  cordial  esteem  of  the  king  of  Denmark,  of  the 
earnest  desire  of  his  majesty  to  form  connexions 
solid,  useful  and  essential  with  this  country^  and  to 
assure  the  government  that  when  the  proper  time 
came,  nothing  should  be  allowed  to  retard  the  con- 
clusion of  an  amicable  settlement  of  a  question, 
already  so  far  advanced  toward  a  solution.  Under 
these  circumstances,  the  only  thing  to  be  done  was 
to  transfer  the  business  to  Mr.  Jefferson.  This  ena- 
bled him  immediately  to  enter  upon  the  service  of 
the  Empress  of  Russia.  In  his  letter,  on  this  occa- 
sion, to  Mr.  Jefferson,  he  wrote  : 

**  If  I  have  not  finally  concluded  the  object  of 
my  mission  it  is  neither  your  fault  nor  mine.  The 
honor  is  now  reserved  for  you  to  display  your  great 
abilities  and  integrity  by  the  completion  and  im 
provement  of  what  Dr.  Franklin  had  wisely  begun 
I  rest  perfectly  satisfied  that  the  interests  of  the  brave 
men  I  commanded  will  experience  in  you,  parental 
affection,  and  that  the  American  flag  can  lose  noni 


THE  MISSION  TO  DENMARK.  2g^ 

of  its  lustre,  but  the  contrary,  while  its  honor  is  con- 
fided to  you. 

"  While  I  express,  in  the  warm  effusions  of  a 
grateful  heart,  the  deep  sense  I  feel  of  my  eternal 
obligations  to  you,  as  the  author  of  the  honorable 
prospect  that  is  now  before  me,  I  must  rely  on  your 
friendship  to  justify  to  the  United  States  the  impor- 
tant step  I  now  take  conformable  to  your  advice. 

"  I  have  not  forsaken  a  country  that  has  had 
many  and  disinterested  proofs  of  my  affection.  And 
I  can  never  renounce  the  glorious  title  of  a  citizen 
of  the  United  States.  It  is  true  that  I  have  not  the 
express  permission  of  the  sovereignty  to  accept  the 
offer  of  her  imperial  majesty.  Yet  America  is  inde- 
pendent, is  in  perfect  peace,  and  has  no  public  em- 
ployment for  my  military  talents. 

"  The  prince  royal  sent  me  a  messenger  request- 
ing me  to  come  to  his  apartment.  His  royal  high- 
ness said  a  great  many  civil  things  to  me ;  told  me 
that  the  king  thanked  me  for  my  attention  and  civil 
behavior  to  the  Danish  flag,  while  I  commanded  in 
the  European  seas ;  and  that  his  majesty  wished  to 
testify  to  me  his  personal  esteem." 

It  is  said  that  Jones  was  offered  a  pension  from 
the  Danish  government  of  fifteen  hundred  crowns  a 
)rear.     Jones,  however,  never  mentioned  this  circum- 


294  ^AUL  JONES. 

stance  to  any  of  his  most  familiar  correspondents* 
There  is  no  evidence  that  he  ever  received  one  dol- 
lar of  this  money,  but,  on  the  contrary,  much  evi- 
dence that  he  never  received  any. 

The  commodore  repaired  to  St.  Petersburg  He 
was  received  by  the  empress  with  more  flattering 
attentions  than  the  court  had  ever  before  con- 
ferred upon  any  stranger.  The  empress  immedi- 
ately conferred  upon  him  the  rank  of  rear-admiral. 
He  was  detained  in  the  capital,  contrary  to  his  wishes, 
a  fortnight,  where  he  was  introduced  to  the  first  cir- 
cles of  society,  feasted  and  caressed.  Jones,  speak- 
ing of  this  reception,  writes  to  Lafayette  : 

"You  would  be  charmed  with  Prince  Potemkin. 
He  is  a  most  amiable  man,  and  none  can  be  more 
noble-minded.  For  the  empress,  fame  has  never 
done  her  justice.  I  am  sure  that  no  stranger  who 
has  not  known  that  illustrious  character,  ever  con- 
ceived how  much  her  majesty  is  made  to  reign  over 
a  great  empire,  and  to  attach  grateful  and  suscej>- 
tible  minds." 

The  attentions  which  Paul  Jones  received  from 
the  Russian  court  greatly  annoyed  the  English  in 
and  about  St.  Petersburg  They  still  insolently  per 
sisted  in  stigmatizing  a  commissioned  officer  in  the 
American  m.vy  as  a  renegade  and  a  pirate y  becau.rc. 


THK  MISSION   TO  DENMARK.  3^5 

having  been  born  in  Scotland,  he  had  espoused  tht 
cause  of  American  liberty. 

Tooke,  in  his  life  of  Catherine  II.,  gives  vent  tc 
all  his  bitter  British  prejudices.  Calling  Admiral 
Jones  an  "  English  pirate  and  renegado,"  he  adds, 
"  Jones,  not  meeting  v/ith  the  consideration  he  ex- 
pected in  America,  made  a  tender  of  his  services  to 
the  court  of  St.  Petersburg  ;  and  the  British  officers, 
applicants  for  employment,  went  in  a  body  to  the 
amount  of  near  thirty  to  lay  down  their  commis- 
sions, declaring  it  was  impossibly  to  serve  under  him, 
Dr  to  act  with  him  in  any  measure  or  capacity. 

We  read  in  an  Edinburgh  paper  of  that  date  the 
following  notice  of  that  event,  probably  written  by  a 
Russian  officer.  "  Paul  Jones  arrived  here  a  few 
days  ago.  He  is  to  set  out  soon,  to  take  command 
of  a  squadron  in  the  Black  Sea.  I  had  the  satisfac 
tion  to  see  this  honest  man,  while  he  was  examining 
one  of  our  dock-yards.  He  is  a  well-made  man  of 
middle  size  ;  he  wears  the  French  uniform  with  the 
Cross  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  Danish  order  which  he  re- 
ceived at  Copenhagen,  where  he  had  the  honor  tc 
dine  with  the  king.  He  has  also  received,  since  he 
came  here,  one  of  the  first  Orders  of  Merit  in  this 
countr>'  so  that  it  is  to  be  feared  that  they  will  spoD 
him   by   maldng   too  much   of  him      The  Englislj 


f96  PAUL  JONES. 

officers  in  the  service  have  presented  a  memorial  tc 
Admiral  Greig,  refusing  to  serve  with  Jones,  and 
threatening  to  throw  up  their  commissions.  Whether 
they  will  stand  to  their  text,  it  is  difficult  to  say." 

The  empress  paid  no  attention  whatever  to  this 
petulance.  Admiral  Jones  treated  it  with  profound 
contempt.  In  writing  to  Lafayette,  in  reference  to 
his  treatment  by  the  Russian  court,  he  says : 

**  This  was  a  cruel  grief  to  the  English,  and  I  own 
that  their  vexation,  which  was  generally  in  and 
about  St.  Petersburg,  gave  me  no  pain." 

The  empress  with  her  own  hands  wrote  to  the 
admiral.  In  her  letter  she  probably  refers,  though 
slightly,  to  this  unmanh'  opposition  of  the  English 
We  give  her  letter. 

"  Sir — A  courier  from  Paris  has  just  brought 
from  my  envoy  in  France,  M.  Simolin,  the  enclosed 
letter  to  Count  Besborodko.*  As  I  believe  that  this 
letter  may  help  to  confirm  to  you  what  I  have  already 
told  you  verbally,  I  have  sent  it,  and  beg  you  to 
return  it,  as  I  have  not  even  made  a  copy  be  taken, 
so  anxious  am  I  that  you  should  see  it.  I  hope  thai 
it  will  efface  all  doubts  from  your  mind,  and  prove  to 
you  that  you  are  to  be  connected  only  with  those 
irho  arc  most   favorably  disposed    toward    you.     ] 

*  Russian  Mimister  for  Xht  Iiom«  Department 


THE  MISSION  TO  DENMARK,  2gy 

have  no  doubt  but  that  on  your  side  you  will  fully 
justify  the  opinion  which  we  have  formed  of  you, 
and  apply  yourself  with  zeal  to  support  the  reputa- 
tion and  the  name  you  have  acquired  for  valor  and 
skill  on  the  clement  in  which  you  are  to  serve. 
*'  Adieu,     I  wish  you  happiness  and  health. 

"  Catherine." 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Russian  Campaign:, 

.^sladrsil  Jones  repairs  to  the  Black  Sea. — Designs  of  Catheriae  II  -^ 
Imposing  Cavalcade. — Turkey  Declares  War  against  Russia  — 
Daring  Conduct  of  Admiral  Jones. — A  Greek  Officer  Alexiana. — 
The  Prince  of  Nassau  Siegen. — Annoyances  of  Admiral  Jouca 
from  Russian  Officers. — Battle  in  the  Black  Sea. — Jones  yields 
the  Honor  to  the  Prince  of  Nassau. 

At  the  same  time  when  Chevalier  Jones  re- 
ceived his  flattering  letter  from  the  empress,  her 
prime  minister  sent  to  him  a  despatch,  requesting 
him  to  repair  to  the  naval  headquarters  on  the 
Black  Sea,  that  he  might  take  part  in  the  opening 
of  the  campaign.  The  minister  also  assured  him,  in 
the  name  cf  the  empress,  that  everything  possible 
should  be  done  to  make  his  situation  agreeable,  and 
to  furnish  him  with  opportunities  for  the  exercise  of 
his  valor  and  skill.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the 
admiral,  receiving  such  marks  of  attention  from  her 
imperial  highness,  should  have  formed  a  high  esti- 
mate of  the  excellence  of  her  character.  He  wrote 
to  Count  Segur  at  this  time,  saying  : 

'*  I  shall  write  to  the  empress,  who  hath  sent  me 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  299 

a  letter  full  of  goodness.  But  I  shall  never  be  able 
to  express  how  much  greater  I  find  her  than  fame 
reports.  With  the  character  of  a  very  great  man, 
she  will  be  always  adored  as  the  most  amiable  and 
captivating  of  the  fair  sex." 

War  had  been  impending  for  several  years 
between  Russia  and  Turkey.  The  Turks,  in  the 
wanton  spirit  of  barbarian  conquest,  without  the 
shadow  of  excuse  for  the  invasion,  had  crossed  the 
Hellespont  with  an  overwhelming  army,  had  seized 
Constantinople,  and  rushing  onward  in  the  tide  of 
victory,  had  unfurled  their  triumphant  banners  within 
sight  of  the  battlements  of  Vienna.  All  Europe  had 
trembled  beneath  the  tread  of  the  terrible  Moslem 
armies.  Catherine  was  anxious  to  drive  these  usurp- 
ing Turks  back  from  Europe,  across  the  Dardanelles 
and  the  Bosphorus,  into  their  Asiatic  wiJds.  She 
would  make  the  imperial  city  of  Constantine  hei 
maritime  capital  and  her  great  naval  depot,  from 
R'hich  most  admirable  point  she  could  command  the 
commerce  of  the  world.  This  was  the  real  and  ever- 
constant  cause  for  the  war,  which  for  nearly  a  cen 
tury  had  been  waged  between  Russia  and  the  Porte. 
But  innumerable  and  frivolous  pretexts  had  been 
brought  forvv^ard,  as  excuses  for  an  appeal  to  arms. 

About   ten  years  before  this,  the  empress  had 
established  a  naval  depot  on  the  right  bank  of  the 


30C  PAUL  JONES. 

Dnieper,  not  ver>'  far  from  the  entrance  of  the  rivei 
into  the  Euxine,  or  Black  Sea.  Imperial  influence 
soon  brought  a  population  of  forty  thousand  to  this 
port,  which  became  an  important  dock-yard,  where 
the  largest  ships-of-war  were  launched.  The  region 
around  was  wild,  savage,  filled  with  wandering,  half- 
civilized  Tartar  tribes.  Russian  gold  and  Russian 
arms  gradually  gained  the  ascendency  and  the  tribes, 
with  their  territory,  were  gradually  annexed  to  the 
majestic  Russian  Empire. 

Catherine  then  contrived,  by  a  treaty  with  the 
Porte,  to  obtain  the  sovereignty  over  the  immense 
province  of  the  Crimea  ;  also  a  sort  of  dominion  over 
the  Black  Sea,  and  the  right  to  pass  with  her  ships 
through  the  Dardanelles.  In  anticipation  of  the  con- 
quest of  Constantinople,  she  caused  her  young  son 
to  be  called  Constantine.  The  King  of  Poland,  the 
Emperor  of  Austria,  and  most  of  the  other  powers 
of  northern  Europe,  were  in  sympathy  with  the 
ambitious  designs  of  Russia.  They  all  wished  to  see 
the  Turks  driven  back  into  Asia.  In  that  case,  most 
of  them  would  receive  portions  of  the  immense  terri- 
tor>'  which  the  Turks  had  overrun  in  Europe.  But 
England  was  intensely  opposed  to  the  designs  of 
Russia.  The  Turkish  Empire,  England  regarded  aa 
Ml   important   and   necessary   barrier   between    iht 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  3OI 

rapidly  growing  power  of  Russia  and  her  own  pes- 
sessions  in  the  East  Indies. 

In  the  year  1786,  Catherine  projected  a  magnifi- 
cent progress  to  her  new  possessions  on  the  Euxine, 
The  enterprise  was  organized  with  all  the  imposing 
brilliance  which  oriental  grandeur  could  create.  The 
immense  cavalcade,  numbering  thousands  of  the 
plumed  and  gayly  dressed  chivalry  of  Europe,  fol- 
lowed down  the  magnificent  valley  of  the  Dnieper. 
All  the  most  prominent  members  of  the  Russian 
court  accompanied  the  empress.  The  ambassa- 
dors of  France,  Austria,  and  of  England  were  in  her 
train.  The  latter  were  probably  instructed,  careful- 
ly to  observe  all  the  movements. 

At  the  city  of  Kief,  some  six  or  seven  hundred 
miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  Prince  Potemkin 
joined  the  imperial  party  with  a  brilliant  cavalcade 
of  the  princes,  dukes,  and  counts  of  the  minor  pow- 
ers of  Europe.  The  King  of  Poland,  with  a  large 
retinue  of  his  nobles,  commenced  the  journey  with 
the  empress.  The  Emperor  of  Austria,  with  a  still 
more  imposing  escort,  joined  her  on  the  way. 

The  Turkish  government  was  quite  troubled,  in 
view  of  this  remarkable  visitation.  Four  of  the  larg- 
est ships  of  the  line  were  sent  to  cast  anchor  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Dnieper  ;  though  they  were  instructed 
not  to  make  any  hostile  demonstrations. 


302  PAUL  JONES. 

The  empress  returned  to  St.  Petersburgh.  Soon 
after  this,  Turkey  declared  war  against  Russia,  with 
England  for  her  adviser.  An  army  of  eighty  thou- 
sand  men  was  ordered  to  march  instantly  alonf 
the  western  shore  of  the  Euxine,  to  the  mouth  of  tht 
Dnieper.  Sixteen  ships  of  the  line,  eight  frigates, 
and  a  large  number  of  gun-boats,  passed  through  the 
Bosphorus  into  the  Euxine.  The  Turks  had  drawn 
the  sword,  and  thrown  away  the  scabbard. 

The  news  of  this  declaration  of  war  by  Turkey 
was  received  with  great  joy  at  St.  Petersburg  It 
was  just  what  the  empress  desired.  At  Cherson, 
Odessa,  and  other  points  at  the  mouth  of  the  Dnie- 
per, she  had  created  quite  a  formidable  fleet.  At 
very  short  notice,  she  could  launch  on  the  waters  of 
the  Euxine,  eight  ships  of  the  line,  twelve  frigates, 
and  nearly  two  hundred  gun-boats.  Joseph  II.  of 
Austria  had  entered  into  alliance  with  the  empress. 
Eighty  thousand  Austrian  troops  were  sent  to 
cooperate  with  the  Russian  arms,  in  Wallachia. 
Two  Russian  squadrons,  under  Admirals  Kruse  and 
Gteig,  were  ready  to  cooperate  in  the  Mediterranean. 
Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  between  Russia  and 
Turkey,  at  the  time  Commodore  Jones  accepted  the 
invitation  of  the  empress.  He  subsequently  wrote  a 
very  carefully  prepared  journal  of  the  difficulties  he 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  303 

encountered,  and  of  the  results  of  this  all-important 
enterprise. 

This  journal,  very  handsomely  executed,  was  en 
grossed  in  the  French  language,  and  was  accompan 
ied  by  ninety-three  Pieces  Justificatives,  or  documen- 
tary proofs,  of  the  accuracy  of  all  his  important  state- 
ments.    The  truthfulness  of  this  narrative  has  never 
been  called  in  question.     It  was  not  published  until 
after  his  death.     Justice  to  Admiral  Jones  demands 
that  I  should  quote  freely  from  this  very  important 
document.     The  reader  will  thus  obtain  a  more  cor- 
rect idea  of  the  true  character  of  the  man,  and  of  thf, 
adventures  upon  which  he  entered,  than  could  bt 
gained  in  any  other  way.     After  describing  the  cir 
cumstances  under  which  he  was  led  to  enter  into 
the  service  of  the  empress,  he  writes  : 

"  In  Denmark  I  put  in  train  a  treaty  between 
that  power  and  the  United  States,  but  it  was  inter- 
rupted by  a  courier  from  St.  Petersburg,  despatched 
express  by  the  empress,  inviting  me  to  repair  to  her 
court. 

'*  Though  I  foresaw  many  difficulties  in  the  way 
of  my  entering  the  Russian  service,  I  believed  I 
could  not  avoid  going  to  St.  Petersburg,  to  thank 
the  empress  for  the  favorable  opinion  she  had  con- 
ceived of  me.  I  transferred  the  treaty,  going  for- 
ward at  Copenhagen,  to  Paris,  to  be  concluded  there 


$04  PAUL  JONES. 

and  set  out  for  St.  Petersburg,  by  Sweden.  At 
Stockholm  I  staid  but  one  night,  to  see  Ccunt 
Rasoumorsky.  Want  of  time  prevented  me  from 
appearing  at  court. 

"  At  Gresholm,  I  was  stopped  by  the  ice,  which 
prevented  me  from  crossing  the  Gulf  of  Bothnia,  and 
even  from  approaching  the  first  of  the  isles  in  the 
passage.  After  having  made  several  unsuccessful 
efforts  to  get  to  Finland  by  the  isles,  I  imagined  that 
it  might  be  practicable  to  effect  my  object  by  doub- 
ling the  ice  to  the  southward,  and  entering  the  Bal- 
tic Sea. 

"  This  enterprise  was  very  daring,  and  had  never 
before  been  attempted.  But  by  the  north,  the  roads 
were  impracticable  ;  and  knowing  that  the  empress 
expected  me  from  day  to  day,  I  could  not  think  of 
going  back  by  Elsinore. 

*'  I  left  Gresholm  early  one  morning,  in  an  un- 
decked passage-boat  about  thirty  feet  in  length.  I 
made  another  boat  follow  of  about  half  that  size. 
This  last  was  for  dragging  over  the  cakes  of  ice,  and 
for  passing  from  one  to  another  to  gain  the  coast  of 
Finland.  I  durst  not  make  my  project  known  to  the 
boatmen,  which  would  have  been  the  sure  means 
of  deterring  them  from  it.  After  endeavoring,  as 
before,  to  gain  the  first  isle,  I  made  them  steer  foi 
for  the  south,  and  we  kept  along  the  coast  of  Sweden 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN  j  >5 

all  the  day,  finding  with  difficulty  room  enou  jh  to 
pass  between  the  ice  and  the  shore.  Toward  .'light, 
being  almost  opposite  Stockholm,  pistol  in  hand  I 
forced  the  boatmen  to  enter  the  Baltic  Sv^a,  and 
Bteer  to  the  east." 

Here  it  is  obvious  to  remark,  that  this  was  out- 
rageously unjust.  These  poor  boatmen,  with  parents, 
wives,  and  children  perhaps,  dependent  upon  them, 
had  never  promised  at  whatever  hazard,  to  take  him 
across  that  stormy  sea.  Indeed  he  had  studiously 
concealed  from  them  the  peril  of  the  enterprise  upon 
which  he  had  embarked.  If  the  admiral  were  willing, 
in  view  of  the  fame  and  fortune  which  were  enticing 
him  beyond  those  tempest-tossed  ice-fields,  to  incur 
the  dreadful  risks,  he  had  no  right  to  compel  these 
poor  men  to  peril  their  lives  in  a  cause  in  which 
they  had  nothing  to  gain.  If  we  understand  the  facts^ 
as  given  by  the  commodore  himself,  the  course  which 
he  pursued  on  this  occasion  is  entirely  unjustifiable. 
Admiral  Jones  continues : 

"  We  ran  toward  the  coast  of  Finland.  All  night 
the  wind  was  fair,  and  we  hoped  to  land  next  day. 
This  we  found  impossible.  The  ice  did  not  permit 
us  to  approach  the  shore,  which  we  only  saw  from  a 
distance.  It  was  impossible  to  regain  the  Swedish 
side,  the  wind  being  strong  and  directly  contrary. 
T  had  no  other  course  but  to  make  for  the  Gulf  o^ 


306  PAUL   JONES. 

Finland.  There  was  a  small  compass  in  the  boat^ 
and  I  fixed  the  lamp  of  my  travelling  carriage  so  as 
to  throw  a  light  on  it. 

*'  On  the  second  night  we  lost  the  small  boatj 
which  was  sunk.  But  the  men  saved  themselves  in 
the  large  one,  which  with  difficulty  escaped  the  same 
fate.  At  the  end  of  four  days,  we  landed  at  Revel 
in  Livonia,  which  was  regarded  as  a  kind  of  miracle. 
Having  satisfied  the  boatmen  for  their  services  and 
their  loss,  I  gave  them  a  good  pilot,  with  the  pro. 
visions  necessary  for  their  homeward  voyage  when 
the  weather  should  become  more  favorable." 

The  admiral  anived  at  St.  Petersburg  on  the 
evening  of  23d  of  April,  O.  S.  On  the  25th,  he  had 
his  first  audience  with  the  empress.  On  the  7th  of 
May,  he  set  out  for  the  seat  of  war.  The  long  and 
dreary  journey  across  the  whole  breadth  of  Russia  to 
the  banks  of  the  Euxine,  occupied  twelve  days. 
He  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Dnieper  on  the  19th. 
The  Prince  Marshal  Potemkin  was  there,  and  re- 
ceived him  very  kindly.  He  requested  the  admiral 
immediately  to  assume  command  of  the  naval  force 
stationed  near  the  mouth  of  the  river.  He  remained 
at  Cherson  but  one  evening  and  night,  but  that 
short  time  showed  him  that  he  would  have  ver> 
serious  obstacles  to  encounter. 

The  Russian  rear-admiral,  Mordwinoff,   did  not 


THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  307 

affect  to  disguise  his  displeasure  at  his  arrival.  Pie 
gave  the  new  admiral  a  very  sullen  reception,  delayed 
communicating  to  him  the  details  of  the  force  under 
his  command,  and  manifested  no  disposition  to  place 
him  in  possession  of  the  silk  flag,  which  belonged  to 
his  rank  as  rear-admiral.  The  River  Bog  empties 
into  the  Dnieper  near  the  point  where  that  majestic 
stream  pours  its  flood  into  the  Black  Sea.  Here 
the  waters  expand  into  a  bay,  affording  good  anchor- 
age ground,  called  the  Roads  of  Shiroque.  The 
Russian  fleet  of  ships  and  gun-boats  was  assembled 
at  this  place.  Early  in  the  morning  after  the  admi- 
ral's arrival  at  Cherson,  he  accompanied  General 
Mordwinofl*  down  the  river  to  the  naval  rendez- 
vous. They  reached  the  flag-ship  Wolodimir  about 
mid-day. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  ofiicers  in  the  squad- 
ron was  a  Greek  by  the  name  of  Alexiano.  He  was 
a  fearless,  coarse,  unmannerly  fellow,  who  had  been,  it 
was  said,  a  pirate  in  the  Archipelago,  and  by  his 
piracies,  plundering  the  commerce  of  all  nations,  had 
greatly  enriched  himself.  This  man  had  assembled 
all  the  commanders  of  the  ships,  and  had  endeav- 
ored to  unite  them  in  a  cabal  against  the  new  ad- 
miral. In  this  he  had  not  been  fully  successful. 
Still  he  had  created  antagonisms  to  the  authority  of 
Admiral  Jones  which   caused  him  great  embarrass- 


308  PAUL  JONES. 

mcnt.     Alexiano  had  obtained  the  grade  of  captain 
with  the  title  of  brigadier. 

The  Turkish  fleet  and  flotilla  were  a  few  miles 
below  the  roads  of  Shiroque,  nearly  opposite  Ocza 
kow,  which  was  held  by  a  strong  garrison  of  th» 
Turks,  and  was  besieged  on  the  land  side  by  the 
Russians,  the  Turkish  fleet  holding  the  harbor.  Ad- 
miral Jones,  very  wisely  avoiding  all  angry  contention 
with  his  opponents,  proposed  to  one  of  the  Russian 
officers  who  was  friendly  to  him,  that  they  should 
descend  the  bay  together,  and  carefully  reconnoitre 
the  strength  and  position  of  the  Turkish  forces. 
While  he  was  absent.  Prince  Potemkin,  who  wa< 
second  in  authority  to  the  empress  only,  exerted  all 
his  influence  to  restore  harmony.  In  this  he  was 
partially  successful.  The  admiral,  upon  his  return, 
found  all  the  officers  apparently  contented  ;  and 
on  the  26th  of  May,  1788,  he  hoisted  his  flag  on 
the  Wolodimir. 

The  Prince  of  Nassau  Siegen,  one  of  the  German 
principalities,  was  a  very  singular  man.  He  was  rat- 
tle-brained, excessively  vain,  and  quite  destitute  of 
either  ability  in  counsel  or  skill  in  execution.  Ad- 
miral  Jones  had  been  slightly  acquainted  with  him 
in  Paris,  and  was  very  sorry  to  meet  him  as  an  asso- 
ciate on  a  military  expedition.  This  man  had  a 
most  exalted  idea  of  his  own  importance,  and  joined 


THE  RUSSUN  CAMPAIGN.  309 

the  expedition  of  the  Russian  empress,  with  the  im- 
pression that  the  success  of  the  campaign  depended 
tiainly  upon  him.  One  of  his  first  instructive  remarks 
to  Admiral  Jones  was : 

"If  we  gain  any  advantage  over  the  Turks,  it  is 
essential  to  exaggerate  it  to  the  utmost." 

To  this  statement,  which  was  made  with  a  ver) 
patronizing  air,  the  admiral  simply  replied  : 

*•  I  have  never  adopted  that  method  of  making 
myself  of  consequence." 

The  rank  of  the  prince,  his  possessions,  and  his 
boastful  braggadocio  spirit  had  strangely  deceived 
the  empress.  The  fleet  consisted  of  two  pretty  dis- 
tinct portions  ;  a  squadron  of  powerful  war  vessels 
and  a  large  flotilla  of  gun-boats.  The  necessity  of 
cooperative  action  in  military  expeditions  is  such, 
that  Napoleon  I.  once  remarked  : 

'*  It  is  better  to  intrust  the  command  of  sm  army 
to  one  poor  general  than  to  two  good  ones." 

Admiral  Jones  found  that  while  he  was  intrusted 
with  the  command  of  the  war-ships,  the  flotilla  of 
gun-boats  was  placed  under  the  independent  orders 
of  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  Nothing  efficient  could  be 
accomplished  against  the  powerful  and  well-manned 
navy  of  the  Turks  without  the  cooperation  of  the 
whole  Russian  fleet  of  ships  and  boats  under  the 
direction  of  a  single  mind.     And  yet  there  probabl> 


310  PAUL  JONES. 

were  not  in  all  Europe  two  men  less  calculated  to 
act  together  than  Admiral  Jones  and  the  Prince  of 
Nassau. 

These  two  immense  fleets  and  armies  were  fa- 
cing each  other.  The  headquarters  of  the  Russians 
was  at  Cherson,  while  the  Turks  had  their  central 
rendezvous  about  fifty  miles  farther  southeast,  at 
Oczakow.  The  spacious  waters  between  Cherson 
and  Oczakow,  where  the  Dnieper  and  the  Bog  pour 
their  widening  floods  into  the  Euxine,  were  filled 
with  the  ships  of  the  line,  the  frigates,  and  the  gun- 
boats of  the  contending  parties. 

For  four  months  there  was  almost  a  continuous 
series  of  manoeuvres  and  skirmishes,  rising  occasionally 
into  hotly  contested  battles.  The  region  was  full  oi 
shoals  and  sand-bars,  where  the  heavily-armed  ships, 
and  even  the  gun-boats,  were  continually  running  a 
ground.  Prince  Potemkin  was  in  the  supreme  com- 
mand of  the  whole  force,  naval  and  military.  He 
stood  in  the  place  of  the  empress,  and  was  said  in 
reality  to  have  more  power  than  Catherine  herself. 
Admiral  Jones  found  that  he  could  originate  no 
movement.  He  could  only  obey  orders,  and  must 
wait  patiently  until  he  received  them.  When  orders 
were  given,  the  ships  alone  were  subject  to  his  com- 
mand. The  Prince  of  Nassau  was  jealous  of  his 
renown,  and  seemed  often  disposed  rather  to  thwart 


THE   RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN.  JII 

th2n  to  aid  the  efforts  of  the  admiral.  He  was  a  man 
of  considerable  skill  in  cunning  and  intrigue,  and  had 
led  even  Potemkin  to  apprehend  that  great  results 
were  to  be  accomplished  by  the  action  of  his  gun- 
h»oats. 

The  latter  part  of  May,  1788,  the  Turkish  adml 
ral  came  to  the  succor  of  Oczakow,  with  an  addi- 
tional fleet  of  one  hundred  and  twenty  armed  vessels, 
and  other  armed  craft.  Thus  the  Turkish  nava) 
fdrce,  in  those  waters,  far  surpassed  that  of  the 
Russian.  Admiral  Jones  was  requested  with  his 
ships  to  harass  the  Turks,  in  all  the  ways  in  his 
power  without  exposing  himself  to  loss.  The  Turks, 
conscious  of  their  superiority,  were  not  disposed  to 
run  any  risks.  Admiral  Jones  was  also  disappointed 
in  finding  that  several  of  his  ships  were  merely  large 
pleasure  barges,  with  which  the  empress  and  her 
court,  had  floated  down  the  Dnieper.  These  were 
inefficiently  armed,  and  were  but  poorly  prepared 
for  a  conflict  with  the  oak-ribbed  ships  of  the  Turks. 

Admiral  Jones  was  sorely  tried.  He  saw  but 
little  opportunity,  under  such  circumstances,  for  any- 
thing  to  be  accomplished  to  the  honor  of  the  Russian 
flag.  He  however  invited  all  the  leading  officers, 
both  of  the  squadron  and  of  the  flotilla  to  his  cabia, 
and  thus  addressed  them : 


312  PAUL  JONES. 

"  GENTLEMEN—Having  been  suddenly  called  tc 
icrve  her  imperial  majesty,  I  have  need  of  double 
indulgence,  being  as  yet  ignorant  of  the  language 
and  customs  of  the  country.  I  confess  I  mistrust 
my  capacity  properly  to  discharge  all  the  duties  of 
the  high  trust  with  which  her  majesty  has  honored 
me.  But  I  rely  on  my  zeal,  and  your  favor,  coopera 
tion,  and  candid  advice,  for  the  good  of  the  service 
You  are  met,  gentlemen,  on  serious  business.  Wc 
are  to  discuss  points  which  touch  nearly  the  honor 
of  the  Russian  flag  and  the  interests  of  her  majesty. 

"We  have  to  deal  with  a  formidable  enemy,  hut 
if  we  are  united,  and  of  one  mind  in  all  our  efforts  : 
if  our  operations  are  well  concerted  and  vigorously 
executed,  the  known  courage  of  the  Russians,  the 
cause  of  the  empress  and  of  the  country,  the  re- 
membrance of  so  many  past  victories,  afford  us  the 
most  flattering  hope  of  success,  and  cannot  fail  to 
inspire  invincible  resolution.  We  must  resolve  to 
conquer.  Let  us  join  our  hands  and  our  hearts. 
Let  as  show  that  our  feelings  are  noble,  and  cast  far 
from  us  all  personal  considerations.  Honor  enough 
may  be  gained  by  every  individual ;  but  the  true 
glory  of  the  citizen  is  to  be  useful  to  his  country." 

This  concilatory  speech  of  the  admiral  seemed 
to   have   produced   a   good    impression.     They   aii 


THE  RUSSIAN   CAMPAIGN.  313 

agreed  to  combine  their  energies  in  an  attack,  the 
next  day,  upon  an  exposed  portion  of  the  Turkish 
fleet,  in  accordance  with  a  plan  presented  by  Ad- 
miral Jones. 

In  consequence  of  the  shallowness  of  the  water, 
most  of  the  manoeuvres  were  to  be  conducted  by 
the  gun-boats.  The  heavy  ships  could  sweep  ovei 
only  a  limited  range,  being  of  necessity  confined  to 
the  channels  of  deep  water.  Admiral  Jones,  conse- 
quently, took  his  station  on  board  the  gun-boats, 
passing  from  one  to  another,  as  the  incidents  of  the 
conflict  required.     A  very  fierce  battle  was  fought. 

Admiral  Jones  seems  to  have  been  born  insensible 
to  fear.  Amidst  the  most  terrific  scenes  of  death 
and  destruction,  he  moved  with  as  unperturbed  a 
spirit  as  if  he  were  merely  contending  with  an  ordi- 
nary storm  at  sea.  Much  of  the  time,  he  was  in  the 
same  gun-boat  with  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  The 
prince  had  the  good  sense  to  be  guided  by  the  advice 
of  the  officer  who  was,  in  every  respect,  so  vastly  his 
superior.  The  victory  was  decisive  for  the  Russians. 
Two  of  the  Turkish  ships  were  burned.  The  Turk- 
ish flotilla  of  fifty-seven  vessels  was  driven  from  the 
ground  it  had  occupied,  to  seek  protection  under  the 
heavy  guns  of  the  squadron.  As  thr  battle  was 
mainly  conducted  by  the  gun-boats,  the  admiral  left 
ail  the  honor  with  the  Prince  of  Nassau.     Still    Kd 

14 


514  PAUL  JONES. 

miral  Jones  formed  the  plan,  and  guided  in  all  the 
tactics  of  the  strife.  And  he  could  not  prevent  it 
from  being  whispered,  that  the  honor  of  the  victory 
rL^aily  belonged  to  himself.  This  annoyed  the  Prince 
of  Nassau. 

Alluding  to  this  fact,  Admiral  Jones  wrote,  on  the 
nth  of  June,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Littlepage,  chamber- 
lain of  the  King  of  Poland  : 

"  Prince  Potemkin  wrote  me  a  letter  of  thanks 
for  the  affair  of  the  7th.  If  the  honor  had  been 
ten  times  greater,  I  should  have  renounced  it  al- 
together, in  favor  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  But  1 
am  sorry  to  say  he  is  too  jealous  to  be  content  with 
my  self-denial.  Perhaps  he  is  ill-advised  without 
knowing  it.  There  is  nothing  consistent  with  my 
honor  that  I  would  not  do,  to  make  him  easy.  I  am 
the  more  in  pain,  as  I  understand  he  spoke  favorably 
of  me  to  Prince  Potemkin  before  I  arrived.  If  he  now 
becomes  my  enemy,  I  shall  not  imitate  his  example. 
It  was  my  intention  to  pay  him  a  compliment,  when 
I  said  in  my  letter  to  the  prince,  *  that  he  had  taken 
my  counsel  in  good  part,  in  the  affair  of  the  7th.' 
1  showed  the  Prince  of  Nassua  that  letter,  and  he 
Beemed  pleased  with  it.  In  the  affair,  he  embraced 
me,  and  said  we  *  should  always  make  but  one.*  But 
now  I  find  a  false  construction  has  been  put  upon  my 


THE   RUSSIAN   CAMPAIGN.  3I5 

i'etter,  and  his  jealousy  supersedes  every  noble  senti. 
ment." 

Ten  days  after  this,  Admiral  Jones  a^ain  wrote 
to  Mr.  Littlepage,  in  which  letter  he  says  : 

*•  I  have  put  up  with  more  from  the  Prince  of 
Nassau  than,  under  other  circumstances,  I  could  have 
done  from  any  man  who  was  not  crazy.  I  can  no 
more  reckon  upon  his  humor  than  on  the  wind.  One 
hour  he  embraces  me,  and  the  next  he  is  ready  to 
cut  my  throat." 

As  we  have  mentioned,  the  naval  force  of  the 
Turks  far  exceeded  that  of  the  Russians.  The  Turk- 
ish  admiral,  whose  title  seems  to  have  been  "  Capi- 
taine  Pasha,"  was  a  man  of  decided  ability.  Admi- 
ral Jones  had  been  led  to  form  a  ver}^  high  opinion 
of  his  character  both  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman. 
He  had  formed  the  plan  to  make  a  sudden  and  un- 
expected  attack,  with  his  whole  force  of  ships  and 
gun-boats,  upon  the  Russian  flotilla  and  squadron  ;  by 
running  down  the  gun-boats  and  throwing  a  showcj^ 
of  fire-balls  upon  the  squadron,  he  hoped  to  destrc^ 
the  whole  fleet. 


CHAPIER    XV. 
Adventures  in  the  Black  Sea. 

'n'i  First  Battle. — Folly  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau. — Inefucienry  of 
the  Gu'a-lK>ats. — Burning  of  the  Greek  Captives. — Httin;:cjv] 
of  Jones. — Alienation  between  the  Admiral  and  the  Prince  M 
Nassau. — The  Second  Conflict. — Annoyances  of  the  Admiral.— 
Hostility  of  the  English. — Necessary  Employment  of  Foreii;; 
^amen. — Disgrace  of  Nassau. — Transferer  ce  of  the  Admiral  tc 
the  Baltic, 

It  was  the  plan  of  Admiral  Jones,  to  anticipate 
the  contemplated  attack  of  the  Capitaine  Pasha, 
Li\d  so  to  weaken  him  as  at  least  to  embarrass  his 
movements.  The  plan  he  proposed  was  so  neces- 
sary and  apparently  so  feasible,  that  it  was  accepted 
by  all  the  officers.  Durmg  the  night,  as  the  wind 
did  not  favor,  he  warped  the  ships  of  his  squadron, 
by  means  of  their  anchors,  to  the  positions  he  wished 
them  to  occupy.  The  next  morning,  which  was  thi 
17th  of  June,  1788,  the  wind  was  fresh  and  fair.  i\\ 
the  earliest  dawn  the  admiral  signalled  for  all  hi;< 
war  ships  to  bear  down  upon  the  Turkish  fleet, 
which  was  before  him  in  the  broad  shallow  bay,  at 
the  distance  of  but  a    few  miles.     The   gun-boats. 


ADVENTURES   IN   THE   BLACK   SEA.  31; 

under  the  command  of  the  Prince  of  Nassau,  followed 
tardily  behind  the  squadron.  Their  progress  was  so 
slow,  though  there  was  no  occasion  whatever  for  the 
delay,  that  the  admiral  had  to  halt  twice,  in  order 
to  allow  the  gun-boats  to  come  up  with  him. 

It  was  a  brilliant  spectacle  which  was  presented 

in  the  rays  of  this  June  morning's  sun.     The  majes 

tic  bay,  into   which  were  poured   the   waters  of  the 

Dnieper,  the    Bog,    the    Liman,    and   several  other 

minor  streams,   spread  out   in  all  directions.     The 

whole    Russian    fleet   of    ships   and    gun-boats,    in 

beautiful    battle    array,    was   bearing    down    under 

full   sail   with  a  fair  wind,   upon   the   unsuspecting 

and  unprepared  Turks.     The  moment  the  Capitaine 

Pasha  caught  sight  of  the  wondrous   spectacle,    he 

was  terror-stricken.     The  force    rushing   upon    him 

appeared  far  more  powerful  than  it  really  was.     The 

wind  being  fresh  and  fair,  the  Turkish   admiral  saw 

at  once  that   the  whole  Russian  armament   might 

strike  any  portion  of  his  line  before  other  portions 

could  come   to  its  aid.     His  only  resource  was   in 

Bight.     The  same  wind  which  was  bringing  down 

the  Russian  fleet  upon  him,  would  bear  him  onward 

in  his  escape,  to  take  shelter  under  the  massive  guns 

of  the  batteries  and  ramparts  of  Oczakow. 

The  signal  was  given  for  the  flight.     As  in  the 
twinkUng  of  an  eye,  a  wonderful  scen^  of  tumult  and 


3l8  PAUL  JONES. 

confusion  was  presented  along  the  whole  Turkish 
line.  The  ships,  the  frigates,  the  gun-boats  were  rai3- 
ing  their  anchors,  cutting  their  cables,  spreading  theii 
sails,  and  pulling  their  oars,  in  the  frantic  endeavor 
to  escape  the  impending  peril.  Admiral  Jones 
opened  fire  upon  the  bewildered  foe,  from  his  bow 
chasers,  wherever  a  gun  could  be  brought  to  bear. 

The  second  officer  in  command  of  the  Turkish 
fleet  seemed  to  act  like  one  bereft  of  reason,  in  the 
panic  which  had  apparently  seized  all  alike.  He 
had  charge  of  one  of  the  finest  of  the  Turkish  linc- 
of-battle  ships ;  a  mammoth  fabric,  with  its  tiers  of 
death-dealing  guns,  which  would  have  been  a  match 
for  any  ship  in  the  British  navy.  But  assailed  by  a 
dozen  Russian  ships  and  gun-boats,  it  would  in  a 
few  moments  have  been  sunk  beneath  the  waves, 
or  blown  into  the  air.  As  the  vast  sails  of  this  ship 
were  flung  to  the  breeze,  it  slowly  wheeled  around, 
got  under  rapid  headway  and  ran  plump  upon  a 
sand-bank,  beyond  all  possible  hope  of  extrication 
As  she  struck,  she  careened  over  at  an  angle  of 
forty-five  degrees.  The  muzzles  of  her  guns,  on  th<; 
lower  side,  were  dipped  into  the  water ;  upon  the 
upper  side,  they  pointed  to  the  clouds.  Thus  the 
ship  could  neither  fight  nor  run.  The  crew,  as  man> 
as  could,  crowded  into  the  boats,  escaped  from  the 
ship,  and  took  refuge  in  other  vessels  of  the  fleet. 


ADVENTURES  IN  THE   BLACK   SEA.  319 

Admiral  Jones  knew  that  the  ship  was  his  It 
was  a  magnificent  prize.  It  needed  no  further  atten- 
tion. He  therefore  gave  chase  to  the  ship  of  the 
Capitaine  Pasha.  The  Prince  of  Nassau,  to  the 
great  chagrin  of  Admiral  Jones,  came  up  with  his 
gun-boats,  threw  fire-balls  into  the  splendid  prize, 
and  burned  it  to  the  water's  edge. 

The  flag-ship  of  the  Turkish  admiral  was  also  an 
unwieldy  mass  to  navigate  the  intricate  channels 
of  this  shallow  bay.  It  soon  struck  a  sand-bank, 
and  was  helpless.  The  crew  fled.  There  were  now 
nine  of  these  large  Turkish  ships-of-war  aground. 
They  were  manned  by  Turkish  sailors,  and  also  by 
a  large  number  of  Greeks,  who  had  been  subjugated 
by  the  Turks,  and  being  nominal  Christians,  were 
in  entire  sympathy  with  their  Christian  brethren 
the  Russians.  These  men  were  compelled  to  serve 
the  Turkish  guns,  as  England  often  compelled  im- 
pressed American  seamen. 

The  Prince  of  Nassau  seemed  to  have  lost  all 
control  of  his  gun-boats.  They  ran  about  here  and 
there,  independent  of  all  command,  and  did  wha! 
they  would.  Like  Indian  warriors,  each  boat  fought, 
plundered,  or  destroyed,  on  its  own  account.  A 
cannon-ball  had  struck  the  flag-staff  of  the  deserted 
admiral's  ship,  and  broke  it  off"  so  that  the  flag  hung 
do-^n  draggling  it  in  the  water.     The  Prince  of  Nas 


320  PAUL  JONES. 

3au,  eager  of  the  honor  of  capturing  the  flag  of  the 
Turkish  admiral,  hurried  up  with  one  of  his  gun. 
boats,  seized  the  defenceless  banner,  and  then  in- 
sanely  threw  his  fire-balls  into  the  ship  till  it  wa^-. 
wrapped  in  flame  and  disappeared. 

The  other  boats  of  the  flotilla,  imitating  this  ex- 
ample, rushed  about  pell-mell  without  order  or  plan, 
offering  no  cooperation  to  follow  up  the  victory,  and 
wantonly  amusing  themselves  in  burning  the 
grounded  ships.  All  of  these  Turkish  vessels  had 
more  or  less  of  the  Greeks  on  board.  In  vain  these 
poor  creatures  cried  for  mercy.  They  threw  them- 
selves upon  their  knees  ;  they  made  the  sign  of 
the  cross,  to  indicate  that  they  too  were  Christians. 
The  barbarous  and  fanatic  Russian  sailors,  ignorant 
and  cruel,  threw  their  fire-balls  on  board  the  ships, 
and  consigned  vessels  and  crew  alike  to  the  flames. 
Above  three  thousand  of  these  unhappy  men  were 
burned  with  their  ships.  Only  two  of  the  stranded 
vessels  were  saved  from  the  flames.  One  was  a 
sloop,  very  indifferently  armed,  and  the  other  a 
small  brig. 

Though  this  was  a  great  victory,  it  probably 
jave  Admiral  Jones  more  pain  than  pleasure.  He 
wdLS  appalled  by  the  frightful,  needless  carnage,  of 
burning  the  poor  Greeks  crying  for  mercy.  Such  a 
mode  of  carrying;  on  war  was  abhorrent  to  his  humane 


ADVENTURES  IN  THE  BLACK  SEA.  %?A 

frelinffs  No  results  had  been  accomplished  coni' 
mensurate  with  what  might  have  been  secured,  had 
there  been  order  in  the  fleet.  These  nine  grounded 
vessels,  with  their  powerful  armaments,  would  have 
been  of  immense  advantage,  transferred  from  the  line 
of  the  Turks  to  that  of  the  Russians.  It  is  not 
strange  that  by  this  time  Admiral  Jones  lost  all 
patience  with  his  very  undesirable  coadjutor.  Under 
date  of  June  20th,  he  wrote  to  his  Polish  friend. 
Chamberlain  Littlepage,  as  follows  : 

"  Without  explaining  to  me  any  of  his  reasons, 
the  Prince  of  Nassau  wished  to  go  to  the  sand-bank 
which  was  under  the  guns  at  Oczakow,  with  all  his 
flotilla.  I  opposed  it,  for  all  the  Turkish  flotilla  was 
under  the  cannon  of  the  place,  within  cannon- 
shot  of  our  right  wing.  He  permitted  himself  to 
say  many  uncivil  things.  Among  others  he  said  that 
ke  was  always  wanted  to  protect  mjy  squadron  with 
his  flotilla. 

**  As  he  had  often  said  such  things,  I  told  him 
that  it  was  improper  for  him  to  say  this  to  me,  or  for 
me  to  hear  him  say  it.  He  boasted  that  he  had 
taken  the  two  ships.  I  told  him  *  I  saw  nothing  won- 
derful in  that ;  for  they  were  both  aground  and  cap- 
tured before  he  came  up.*  He  said  '  he  knew  better 
than  I  did  how  to  take  ships.*  I  told  him  that  with. 
out  impugning  his  skill,  he  was  not  ignorant  that  1 


322  PAUL  JONES. 

had  proved  my  ability  to  take  ships  which  were  not 
Turks'.  He  lost  all  control  of  himself,  and  threat ^ 
ened  to  write  against  me  to  the  empress  and  Prince 
Potemkin. 

"  As  for  that,  I  told  him  if  he  were  base  enough 
to  do  it,  I  defied  his  maHce.  Before  this  ridiculous 
dispute,  our  combination  was  unnecessary.  Other- 
wise I  would  have  put  up  with  still  more  for  the 
good  of  the  service.  I  feel  no  rancor  against  him  ; 
and  though  he  said,  in  a  bitter  tone,  that  I  would  be 
rejoiced  to  see  him  beaten,  he  httle  understood  my 
heart." 

The  prince  claimed  all  the  honor  of  this  victory. 
He  so  boastfully  proclaimed  his  achievements,  that 
Prince  Potemkin  was  disposed  to  accept  his  account 
of  the  adventure,  especially  as  Admiral  Jones  had 
too  much  self-respect  to  dispute  his  statements  in  a 
disgraceful  squabble  for  the  honor. 

Potemkin,  elated  by  this  discomfiture  of  the 
Turks,  brought  up  his  whole  land  force  to  the  walls 
of  Oczakow,  intending  to  attempt  to  carry  the  works 
by  storm.  The  Turkish  gun-boats  were  riding  at 
anchor,  under  the  protection  of  the  guns  of  the  for- 
tress. The  Prince  of  Nassau  was  ordered  to  attack 
the  flotilla  with  his  whole  force  of  gun-boats.  Thf 
admiral  was  to  assist,  as  he  could,  in  towing  the  Rus 
sian  flotilla  to  the  position  it  was  to  take  in  the  cop 


ADVENTURES  IN  THE  BLACK   SEA.  323 

test.  The  whole  plan  of  the  battle  was  arranged  by 
Potemkin,  so  that  Admiral  Jones  had  but  little  to  do 
but  to  obey  the  orders,  which  were  sent  to  him, 
though  in  some  respects  he  was  left  to  his  ow  i  dis- 
cretion 

At  one  hour  after  midnight,  the  flotilla  com- 
menced its  advance  toward  the  Turkish  boats  ;  but 
hesitatingly,  with  no  indication  that  they  were  under 
the  impulse  of  a  guiding  and  inspiring  mind.  Some 
of  the  most  important  of  the  boats  were  swept  by  the 
current  to  positions  where  they  could  accom'j'ish 
nothing.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  fortress  there  was 
deep  water.  The  admiral  cooperated  with  grea  effi- 
ciency in  bringing  the  boats  into  position.  /  i  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  saw  five  Turkish  gs  'leys, 
protected  by  the  guns  of  Fort  Hassan.  He  plunged 
upon  them,  boarded  the  first  one  he  came  to,  seized 
it  as  a  prize,  and  with  his  boats  towed  it  away.  He 
then  attacked  the  next  galley,  which  was  a  verj 
large  one,  bearing  the  flag  of  the  Capitaine  Pasha. 
Before  the  admiral  could  arrange  his  boats,  to  haul 
out  the  prize,  a  young  officer,  inexperienced  and  agi- 
tated, cut  the  cable  by  which  she  rode  at  anchor, 
and  a  fresh  breeze  drove  her  rapidly  toward  the  fort. 

The  Turks  were  now  pouring  a  destructive  fire 
upon  their  own  vessel.  The  admiral  despatched  a 
boat  to  the  Wolodimii  to  fetch  another  anchor  and 


524  PAUL  JONES. 

cable.  Leaving:  the  galley  to  be  manned  with  hi, 
own  sailors,  till  the  boat  should  return,  he  pressed 
forward  to  other  conquests.  He  writes  in  his  jour- 
nal: 

"  Before  the  return  of  Lieutenant  Fox,  I  had  the 
mortification  to  see  fire  break  out  in  the  galley  of 
the  Capitaine  Pasha.  I  at  first  believed  that  the 
slaves  chained  on  board  had  found  means  to  escape. 
But  afterwards  I  had  positive  proof  that  Brigadier 
Alexiano,  being  in  a  boat  at  the  time  with  the  Prince 
of  Nassau,  on  the  outside  of  the  flotilla,  and  beinr? 
aware  of  the  intention  of  the  rear-admiral,  swore  that 
it  should  not  succeed,  and  sent  a  Greek  canoe  to  set 
fire  to  the  galley.  The  three  other  Turkish  galleys 
were  at  once  run  down  and  burned  by  firebalb. 
There  were  also  a  two-masted  ship,  and  a  large 
bomb-vessel  burnt  near  Fort  Hassan.  This  includes 
all  that  was  taken  or  destroyed  by  water,  save  fifty- 
two  prisoners  taken  by  the  rear-admiral,  in  the  two 
galleys.  The  wretched  beings  who  were  chained  in 
the  galley  of  the  Capitaine  Pasha,  perished  there  in 
the  flames. 

*'  The  prince  marshal  having  made  an  important 
diversion  on  the  land  side,  it  is  to  be  regretted  that 
advantage  was  not  taken  of  this  movement  to  svAze 
the  remainder  of  the  enemy's  flotilla  ;  but  our  fiotilb 
never  came  up  within  reach  of  grape-shot." 


ADVENTURES   IN  THE  BLACK  SEA.  325 

Admiral  Jones  took  the  precaution  to  have  the 
accuracy  of  this  statement  confirmed,  by  five  of  the 
leading  captains  of  the  Russian  ships.     The  Turkish 
fleet,  being  thus  again  humbled,  retreated  that  very 
night,  both  squadron  and  flotilla,  to  a  strong  positicr 
It  the  mouths  of  the  Danube.     The  admiral  remained 
at  his  station,  to  watch  the  enemy  and   to  be  pre- 
pared  for  any  emergence.     He  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  proceedings  of  his  two  singular  coad"^ 
jutors,  the  German  prince,  and  the  Greek  brigadier. 
"  The  moment  the  ships  began  to  withdraw  from 
Oczakow,  the  Prince  of  Nassau   and  Brigadier  Alex- 
iano  hurried   straight  to  the  headquarters  of  Prince 
Putemkin  to  relate  the  things  which  both  pretended 
chey  had  performed.     In  a  few  moments  after  the 
flotilla  began  to  retire,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  of 
which  Nassau  and  Alexiano  received  their  own  shar< 
before  reaching  headquarters. 

"Two  days  afterwards,  Alexiano  returned  on 
board  the  Wolodimir,  having  caught  a  malignant 
fever,  of  which  he  died  on  the  8th  of  July.  The 
Prince  of  Nassau,  who  had  made  use  of  him  in  cabaK 
ing  against  me— God  knows  wherefore— neithei 
visited  him  n  his  sickness  nor  assisted  at  his  fu- 
neral. At  first  it  was  given  out,  that  the  service 
must  sustain  the  loss  of  every  Greek  in  it,  on  account 
of  his  death:  but    I  soon  experienced  the  reverse 


326  PAUL  JONES. 

Not  one  asked  to  be  dismissed  :  they  remained  undei 
my  command  with  the  Russians,  and  were  more 
contented  than  before.  On  the  day  preceding  the 
death  of  Alexiano  he  had  received  intelligence  of 
having  been  promoted  two  grades;  and  that  hei 
majesty  had  bestowed  on  him  a  fine  estate  and 
peasants,  in  White  Russia. 

"  At  the  same  time,  the  Prince  of  Nassau  had 
received  a  very  valuable  estate,  with  three  or  four 
thousand  peasants,  also  in  White  Russia,  and  the 
military  Order  of  St.  George,  of  the  second  class. 
Her  majesty  likewise  gave  him  liberty  to  hoist  the 
flag  of  vice-admiral  at  the  taking  of  Oczakow,  to 
which  event  it  was  apparently  believed  he  would 
greatly  contribute. 

"  I  received  the  Order  of  St.  Anne,  an  honor  with 
which  I  am  highly  flattered,  and  with  which  I  could 
have  been  perfectly  satisfied,  had  others  been  recom- 
pensed only  in  the  same  proportion,  and  according 
to  the  merit  of  their  services.*     All  the  officers  of 

♦  Upon  the  reception  of  the  Order  of  St.  Anne  by  the  empress 
Count  Segur  wrote  from  St.  Petersburg  a  very  complimentary  letter  t/' 
the  admiral,  under  date  of  the  14th  of  July,  1788.     In  this  letter  he  says  . 

"  The  empress  being  absent  I  forwarded  a  copy  of  the  greatest 
part  of  your  letter  to  General  MouronofF,  who  had  it  read  to  ihs' 
prii  cess.  She  is  highly  satisfied  with  it,  and  in  two  lines  from  hei 
hand,  has  been  pleased  to  charge  me  with  assurances  to  you,  of  the 
great  respect  in  which  she  holds  your  services.  General  Mourono? 
begs  me  to  say  that  he  will  endeavor  to  ment  the  obliging  thin^ 
fou  say  of  him." 


ADVENTURES  IN  THE  BLACl.  SEA.  32; 

the  flotilla  received  a  step  of  promotion,  and  the 
gratuity  of  a  year's  pay.  The  greater  part  of  them 
also  obtained  the  Order  of  St.  George  of  the  last 
class.  Only  two  of  these  officers  had  been  bred  to 
the  sea ;  none  of  the  others  had  been  engaged  in 
navigation.  The  officers  of  the  squadron  under 
my  command  were  almost  wholly  marine  officers. 
They  had  done  their  duty  well,  when  opposed  to 
the  enemy ;  but  they  obtained  no  promotion,  no 
mark  of  distinction,  no  pecuniary  gratification.  My 
mortification  was  excessive  ;  but  my  officers  at  this 
time  gave  me  a  very  gratifying  proof  of  their  attach- 
ment. On  promising  that  I  would  demand  justice 
for  them  from  the  Prince  Potemkin,  at  the  close  of 
the  campaign,  they  stifled  their  vexation,  and  made 
io  complaint." 

Three  days  after  this  important  naval  battle, 
Prince  Potemkin  came  from  the  headquarters  of  the 
army,  to  visit  Admiral  Jones  on  board  the  flag-ship 
Wolodimir.  The  prince  was  accompanied  by  quite 
a  brilliant  retinue  of  the  highest  dignitaries  of  hia 
military  court.  They  all  remained  to  dine  witli  the 
admiral  in  his  spacious  cabin.  The  prince  was  very 
anxious  to  promote  harmonious  action  between  the 
admiral  and  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  By  his  powerful 
influence  he  succeeded  in  inducing  the  Prince  of 
Nassau  to  make  an  apology  to  the  admiral,  in  the 


p8  PAUL  JONES. 

presence  of  all  around  the  table.  The  apolog>^  vv*».i 
cordially  accepted ;  and  the  admiial,  knowing  the 
versatile  and  frivolous  character  of  the  prince,  hoped 
that  it  was  sincere. 

As  Potemkin  took  his  leave,  he  requested  Admi^ 
ral  Jones  to  do  all  in  his  power  toward  raising  the  can- 
non, anchors,  and  other  effects,  belonging  to  the  Turk- 
ish ships  which  had  been  burned.  The  next  day, 
Admiral  Jones,  in  a  spirit  of  concilation,  made  a  visit 
to  the  Prince  of  Nassau.  He  had  previously  detailed 
one  of  the  transport  ships,  which  was  empty  and  un- 
employed, to  the  work  of  raising  some  of  the  sunken 
guns.  As  soon  as  he  stepped  on  board  the  gun-boat 
of  the  prince,  he  was  disrespectfully  assailed,  when 
he  expected  to  have  been  received  with  open  arms. 

"  That  transport,**  exclaimed  the  Prince  of  Nau- 
sau,  angrily,  "  which  you  have  ventured  to  employ 
on  your  own  services,  belonged  to  my  flotilla,  and 
you  had  no  right  to  take  it  under  your  command." 

The  admiral  mildly  replied,  "Prince  Potenikin 
charged  me  to  engage  at  once  in  that  important  bus- 
iness, as  a  servant  of  the  empress.  As  ail  the  vesscli 
of  war,  and  all  the  transports  alike  belong  to  her  im- 
perial  majesty,  and  as  the  transport  in  question  \va.' 
empty  and  unemployed,  I  cannot  see  that  you  have 
any  reasonable  cause  o^  complaint  against  me  " 

But    Nassau    fumed    and    raged.     The    admiral 


ADVENTURES   IN   THE   BLACK   SEA.  329 

ishamed  of  such  puerile  quarrelling,  sadly  toe  k  leave 
of  him,  begging  him  to  reflect  that  he  had  no  cause 
for  displeasure.  Thus  affairs  went  on,  day  after  day 
There  were  heart-burnings  and  bickerings,  and  the 
admiral  found  such  influences  operating  against  him^ 
that  his  hands  were  effectually  tied. 

At  the  close  of  the  American  war,  there  were 
many  British  officers  thrown  out  of  employment,  who 
eagerly  entered  into  the  service  of  the  Empress  of 
Russia. 

This  vast  northern  empire,  with  then  no  access  to 
the  ocean  but  through  the  Baltic  Sea,  was  not  a  mar- 
itime power.  The  empress  had  very  few  naval  offi- 
cers of  any  experience.  By  seizing  Constantinople, 
undoubtedly  the  finest  port  in  the  world,  the  empress 
expected  that  the  sails  of  her  ships  would  whiten  all 
the  seas.  Eagerly,  therefore,  she  accepted  the  ser- 
vices of  able  military  men  from  whatever  nation. 
There  were  no  better  naval  officers  than  England 
could  afford.  These  men  with  one  accord,  as  we 
have  mentioned,  combined,  with  the  most  astonishing 
and  persistent  malignity,  to  crush  Admiral  Jones. 
The  Englishman,  W.  Tooke,  to  whom  we  have  be- 
fore  referred,  with  his  bitter  British  prejudices 
expresses  the  sentiments  of  them  one  and  all.  In 
llis  Life  of  Catherine  II.  he  writes  : 

**  This  known  scarcity  of  commanders  could  not 


330  PAUL  JONES. 

fail  to  attract  the  attention  of  foreign  advtjiturera 
^'ho  had  acquired  any  experience  and  reputation  in 
maritime  affairs.  Of  this  number  was  the  English 
pirate  and  renegado,  Paul  Jones,  who  had  rendered 
himself  so  notorious  in  the  American  war  by  the  mis- 
chiefs he  did  to  the  trade  of  his  country,  and  whose 
desperate  courage,  which  only  served  to  render  his 
atrociousness  conspicuous,  would  in  a  good  cause 
have  entitled  him  to  honor. 

**  This  man  could  not  but  experience  the  common 
fate  incident  to  his  character ;  and  finding  he  did  not 
meet  the  consideration  which  he  expected  in  Amei 
ica,  he  made  a  tender  of  his  services  to  the  court  of 
St.  Petersburg,  where  he  was  gladly  received,  and 
immediately  appointed  to  a  high  command  in  the 
grand  fleet  which  was  under  equipment  at  Cronstadt. 

"  The  British  officers,  full  of  those  national  and 
professional  ideas  of  honor  which  they  had  imbibed 
in  their  own  country  and  service,  considered  this  ap- 
pointment as  the  highest  affront  that  could  be  offered 
to  them,  and  a  submission  to  it,  an  act  of  such  de- 
gradation that  no  time  or  circumstance  could  wipe 
away  the  dishonor.  They  accordingly  went  in  a  body, 
to  the  amount  of  near  thirty,  without  a  single  dissen- 
tient lagging  behind,  or  hesitating  on  account  of  in- 
convenience or  personal  distress,  to  lay  down  their 
commissions  :  declaring  at  the  same  time  that  it  was 


ADVENTURES    IN    THE    BLACK   SEA.  33 1 

impossible  for  them  to  serve  under,  or  to  act  in 
any  manner  or  capacity  whatever,  with  a  pirate  or 
renegade." 

In  the  same  spirit  as  the  above,  the  English  his- 
torians have  from  that  day  to  this,  written  of  this 
noble  man. 

On  the  1 8th  of  September,  the  admiral  received 
a  secret  order  to  attack  the  advance  guard  of  the 
squadron  which  was  anchored  near  Beresane.  The 
attack  was  to  be  made  with  five  frigates,  mounted 
as  batteries,  supported  by  a  few  other  vessels  of  the 
squadron,  as  reserves.  The  arrangements  which 
were  made  for  arming  the  frigates  for  the  enterprise 
were  not  such  as  he  could  approve.  For  instance 
twenty-four  pound-shot  were  to  be  used  in  guns  of 
thirty-six  pounds  calibre.  To  make  these  balls  fill 
the  bore,  they  were  dipped  in  pitch  to  enlarge  their 
circumference.  This  was  exceedingly  dangerous. 
If  the  smallest  particle  of  combustible  matter 
adhered  to  the  gun,  it  would  set  fire  to  the  next 
cartridge.  A  single  such  accident  would  paralyz.c 
the  energies  of  the  bravest  man. 

The  admiral  presented  to  Potemkin  a  plan  o( 
attack.  The  Prince  Potemkin  approved  the  plan. 
The  Prince  of  Nassau  objected  to  it.  There  were 
delays,  and   fault-findings  ;  the  admiral  being  readf 


332  PAUL  JONES. 

to  move,  eithei  upon  his  own  plan  or  upon  any  ctliei 
whenever  the  command  should  be  given  him. 

On  the  13th  of  October,  the  admiral  received  an 
order  which  wounded  him  very  deeply.  It  was  as 
follows : 

"  As  it  is  seen  that  the  Turkish  admiral  has  a 
greater  number  of  vessels  than  yourself,  and  he  may 
resolve  to  attempt  something  before  quitting  hif 
grand  fleet,  I  must  request  your  excellency  to  hole 
yourself  in  readiness  to  receive  him  courageously, 
and  drive  him  back.  I  require  this  to  be  done  with- 
out loss  of  time  ;  if  not,  you  will  be  made  answerable 
for  every  neglect.  I  have  already  ordered  the 
Botilla  to  approach. 

"Prince  Potemkin.** 

To  these  unkind  words  the  admiral  replied  in  his 
journal  : 

*'  It  will  be  hard  to  believe  that  Prince  Potemkin 
addressed  such  words  to  Paul  Jones." 

To  the  prince  he  wrote ; 

"  1  leave  to  your  highness,  as  you  have  a  noble 
hcait  and  a  magnanimous  soul  to  judge  how  an 
officer  who  fears  nothing,  and  had  nothing  where- 
with to  reproach  himself,  must  have  been  affected  by 
'/our  order,  of  the    13th.     I    was  directed  '  to  keep 


ADVENTURES   IN   THE   BLACK   SEA.  333 

nfiyself  in  readiness  to  receive  the  enemy  r^«r^^<r*?j/j/^, 
and  that  unthoui  loss  0/ time,  for  if  not,  etc' 

*'  I  v/as  in  despair  having  been  all  heart  and  soul 
f^t  the  good  of  the  service  ;  and  having  done  all  that 
a  man  of  honor  could  to  inspire  a  confidence  which 
I  believed  I  had  deserved  at  your  hands,  allow  me, 
my  prince,  to  ask  you  how  it  happens  that  I  have 
been  so  unhappy  as  to  have  lost  your  regard.  My 
enemies  themselves  cannot  refuse  me  their  respect. 
General  Count  de  Mamonow  assured  me  of  your  con- 
fidence in  me,  giving  me  the  most  flattering  hopt 
of  your  friendship,  and  her  imperial  majesty  told 
me  the  most  obliging  things  to  the  same  effect. 
At  all  events,  your  highness  has  so  good  a  heart  that 
you  will  excuse  the  hastiness  of  expression  which 
escaped  me  in  my  letter  on  the  14th. 

"  I  am  anxious  to  continue  in  the  service.  It  is 
unnecessary  to  recite  either  the  promises  or  the 
offers  which  have  been  made  to  me.  I  am  disposed 
to  do  all  that  can  be  asked  of  a  man  of  honor,  in  my 
situation.  And  if  you  find  in  me  an  acquisition  to 
the  imperial  marine,  it  belongs  to  yourself  to  fix  me 
in  Russia.  But  as  I  come  neither  as  an  adventurer, 
nor  a  charlatan  to  repair  a  broken  fortune,  I  hope 
In  future  to  experience  no  humiliation,  and  soon  to 
find  myself  in  a  situation  which  was  promised  to  me 
when  I  was  invited  to  enter  into  the  marine  of  thf 


534  PAX]L  JONES. 

empress.  Perhaps  I  love  honors  too  much.  But  as 
to  fortune,  though  my  own  is  not  very  great,  I  never 
bent  the  knee  to  that  idol.  I  well  know  that  riches 
do  not  insure  happiness.  I  am  sure  of  one  thing,  if 
I  had  the  happiness  of  once  enjoying  your  confi 
dence,  it  would  be  for  life,  for  I  am  not  of  a  charac 
ter  that  can  change." 

Prince  Potemkin  had  gradually  come  to  the  con 
elusion  that  it  was  best  to  remove  both  Admiral 
Jones  from  the  command  of  the  squadron  and  the 
Prince  of  Nassua,  and  to  place  both  squadron  and 
flotilla  under  the  command  of  the  Russian  admiral, 
Mordwinoff.  On  the  9th  of  October,  the  Prince  of 
Nassau  was  deprived  of  his  command,  and  left  the 
shores  of  the  Euxine  for  Warsaw  in  Poland.  Nine 
days  after,  on  the  i8th  of  October,  Admiral  Jones 
received  the  following  order  from  Prince  Pottmkin. 

"  According  to  the  special  desire  of  her  imperial 
majesty,  your  service  is  fixed  in  the  northern  seas. 
And  as  this  squadron  and  the  flotilla  are  placed  by 
me  under  the  orders  of  Admiral  Count  Mordwinoff* 
your  excellency  may  in  consequence  proceed  on  the 
voyage  directed." 

This  was  unquestionably  a  severe  blow  to  Ad- 
miral Jones.  He  had  hoped  to  accomplish  great 
results  in  the  campaign  of  the  Euxine.  And  now 
h**  '"^s  ordered  to  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  more  thac 


ADVENTURES   IN   THE   BLACK   SEA.  33$ 

a  thousand  miles  distant,  to  serve  her  majesty  in 
some  manner  as  yet  undefined.  Russia  was  at 
that  time  at  war  with  Sweden.  But  in  those  high 
latitudes  and  ice-bound  waters,  there  was  but  little 
opportunity  in  midwinter  for  naval  warfare. 

On  the  20th,  the  admiral  replied  to  the  unex- 
pected order  he  had  received,  in  the  following  note 
to  Potemkin : 

"  I  am  much  flattered  that  her  majesty  yet 
deigns  to  interest  herself  about  me.  But  what  I 
shall  forever  regret  is  the  loss  of  your  regard.  I 
will  not  say  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  more  skilful 
sea  officers  than  myself.  I  know  well  that  it  is  a  very 
possible  thing.  But  I  feel  emboldened  to  say  that 
you  will  never  find  a  man  more  susceptible  of  a  faith- 
ful attachment,  or  more  zealous  in  the  discharge  of 
his  duty.  I  forgive  my  enemies  who  are  near  you 
for  the  painful  blow  aimed  at  me.  But  if  there  is  a 
just  God,  it  will  be  difficult  for  him  to  do  as  much." 

This  intimation  that  Potemkin  had  been  led  to 
this  action  by  the  persuasions  of  others,  annoyed 
the  imperial  prince,  who  considered  himself  rather 
the  master  than  the  servant  even  of  her  majesty. 
When,  a  few  days  after,  the  admiral  called  at  head- 
quarters, to  take  leave  of  the  prince,  Potemkin  said 
to  him,  with  much  vehemence,  at  the  same  time 
rising  from  his  chair  and  stamping  with  his  foot  • 


336  PAUL  JONES. 

"  Do  not  believe  that  any  one  leads  me,  not  evci 
the  empress."  The  prince,  however,  presented  the 
following  letter  to  the  admiral,  to  be  presented  to 
the  empress  in  testimonial  of  his  services. 

*'  Madam — In  sending  to  the  high  throne  of  you! 
imperial  majesty  Rear-Admiral  M.  Paul  Jones,  I  take 
with  submission  the  liberty  of  certifying  the  eager 
ness  and  zeal  which  he  has  ever  shown  for  the  ser 
vice  of  your  imperial  majesty,  and  to  render  himsel* 
worthy  of  the  high  favor  of  your  imperial  majesty. 

"  From  the  most  faithful  subject  of  your  impcria 

majesty, 

'*  Prince  PoTSMxai?.* 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
Retirement  and  Death. 


Tha  Return  to  Cherson. — Sickness  and  Sadness. — Oczakow  S-'onc  =J. 
— The  Wintry  Journey  to  St.  Petersburg. — Mental  Activitji.— 
Calunaniated  by  the  English. — The  Admiral's  Defence. — Slander- 
ous Accusation. — His  Entire  Acquittal. — Testinaony  of  Count 
Scgur. — Letter  to  the  Empress. — Obtains  Leave  of  Absence. — 
Returns  to  France. — Life  in  Paris, —  Sickness  and  Death. 


On  a  cold  bleak  morning  of  the  9th  of  November 
Admiral  Jones,  with  a  disappointed  and  saddened 
spirit,  stepped  from  the  deck  of  his  flag-ship,  the  Wolo- 
imir,  into  an  open  boat  which  had  been  launched  at  its 
side.  A  freezing  blast  tossed  and  crested  the  waters 
of  the  widely  expanded  sea,  while  his  own  ships  rolling 
heavily  on  the  billows,  and  the  masts  of  the  Turkish 
squadron  could  be  seen  rocking  to  and  fro,  far  away  in 
the  distance.  In  this  open  boat,  exposed  to  the  win- 
try gales,  encountering  sleet  and  snow,  and  drenched 
with  spray,  the  war-worn,  world-weary  admiral  spent 
three  days  and  three  nights  before  he  reached  Cher- 
son.  His  sufferings,  from  the  combined  influence  of 
hostile  elements  and  an  agitated  mind,  were  vei-y 
^reat» 

If 


338  PAUL  JONES, 

The  day  after  his  arrival,  an  impassable  baniei 
of  ice  extended  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach.  Com^ 
pletely  worn  out,  he  sank  upon  his  bed,  and  it  wa^ 
long  doubtful  whether  he  would  ever  leave  it  till  he 
was  borne  to  his  burial.  Slowly  he  recovered 
Nearly  a  month  passed  away,  of  winter's  most  dis- 
mal storms  in  that  dreary  region,  ere  he  was  able  to 
set  out  on  his  long  journey  of  more  than  two  thou 
sand  miles,  across  the  whole  breadth  of  Russia. 

He  left  Cherson  on  the  morning  of  the  6th  of 
December,  1788.  The  mercury  was  then  at  twenty- 
six  degrees  below  zero.  That  very  morning,  as  he 
soon  afterwards  learned,  the  Russians  took  Oczakow 
by  storm.  Eleven  thousand  soldiers  composed  the 
Turkish  garrison.  In  the  intensity  of  the  cold,  just 
before  the  dawn  of  day,  the  Russians,  in  six  strong 
columns,  with  loud  yells,  a  storm  of  bullets,  and 
gleaming  sabres,  rushed  upon  the  Turks,  taking  them 
completely  by  surprise.  It  was  an  awful  scene  of 
demoniac  clamor,  blood,  and  woe.  In  a  few  hours 
the  dreadful  deed  was  done.  Not  one  in  the  garri 
son,  not  a  Turk  in  the  city,  was  spared.  Nineteen 
thousand  gory  corpses,  frozen  in  the  wintry  blast, 
strewed  the  streets  of  the  city.  Had  the  Turks  been 
victorious,  the  Russians  would  have  been  put  to  the 
jiword  with  equal  ferocity.     Such  is  man  in  his  treat 


RETIREMENT  AND  DEATH.  53^ 

ment  of  his  brother.     Such,  in  the  main,  has  been 
the  history  of  our  race  since  the  Fall. 

In  the  swiftly  drawn  sledges  of  Russia,  Admiral 
Jones  was  whirled  along  over  the  drear  and  treeless 
plains  at  the  rate  of  over  one  hundred  miles  a  day. 
At  Skloff,  he  made  a  short  tarry,  where  he  was  re- 
ceived by  General  Soritsch,  with  the  most  distin- 
guished attention.  He  reached  St.  Petersburg  on 
the  28th  of  the  month,  after  a  journey  of  twenty-two 
days.  The  empress  invited  him  to  the  honor  of 
a  private  audience  on  the  31st.  He  presented 
the  letter  from  Prince  Potemkin.  The  empress  re- 
ceived him  kindly.  He  was  informed  that  a  little 
time  must  elapse,  before  it  could  be  decided  what 
new  command  should  be  intrusted  to  him.  He  was 
however  assured  that  it  should  be  one  certainly  of 
not  less  importance  than  that  of  a  squadron  in  the 
Black  Sea. 

The  mind  of  the  admiral  was  always  in  intense 
activity.  The  one  thought  which  seemed  ever  to 
engross  him  ever  the  promotion  of  the  prosperity 
of  the  United  States.  During  the  few  weeks  of 
repose  which  were  thus  forced  upon  him,  he  drew 
up  a  very  carefully  prepared  plan,  of  an  alliance,  poli- 
tical and  commercial,  between  Russia  and  the  United 
States.  The  object  of  this  plan  was  to  promote 
reciprocal  advantages,  and  especially  to  encourage 


540  PAUL  JONES. 

commerce  with  the  growing  Russian  settlements  on 
the  Black  Sea.  This  document  he  presented  to  the 
Russian  vice-chancellor,  Count  d'Osterman.  The 
count,  after  carefully  examining  it,  invited  the 
admiral  to  his  cabinet,  and  said  to  him  : 

**  The  plan  is  a  good  one,  but  I  do  not  think  it 
expedient  to  adopt  it  at  this  time.  A  commercial 
alliance  between  Russia  and  the  United  States 
would  still  futher  irritate  the  British  government 
against  Russia.  We  must  postpone  the  further  con- 
sideration of  this  question  until  we  have  made  peace 
with  the  Turks." 

England,  in  her  desire  to  engross  the  commerce 
of  the  world,  wished  to  cripple  that  of  all  other 
nations,  especially  that  of  the  United  States.  The 
admiral,  in  his  journal,  speaks  as  follows  of  the  efforts 
of  the  English  to  crush  him  : 

"  I  have  been  more  deeply  hurt  by  those  secret 
machinations  against  me  as  regards  the  empress. 
My  enemies  have  had  the  wickedness  to  make  her 
believe  that  I  was  a  cruel  and  brutal  man,  and  that 
I  had,  during  the  American  war,  even  killed  my  own 
nephew.  It  is  well  known  that,  from  motives  of 
revenge,  the  English  have  invented  and  propagated 
a  thousand  fictions  and  atrocities,  to  endeavor  to 
blacken  the  character  of  the  celebrated  men  who 
effected  the  American  Revolution.     A  Washingtor 


RETIREMENT  AND  DEATH.  34I 

and  a  Franklin,  two  of  the  most  illustrious  and  virtu- 
ous men  that  have  ever  adorned  humanity,  have  not 
been  spared  by  these  calumniators.  Are  they  now 
the  less  respected  Dy  their  fellow-citizens  ?  On  the 
contrary  they  are  universally  revered,  even  in  Europe, 
as  the  fathers  of  their  country,  and  as  examples  of 
all  that  is  great  and  noble  in  human  character, 

*•  In  civil  war,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  opposite  fac- 
tions should  mutually  endeavor  to  make  it  believed 
that  each  is  in  the  right.  And  it  is  obvious,  that 
the  party  most  in  the  wrong  will  always  be  the 
most  calumnious.  If  there  had  really  been  anything 
against  my  character,  the  English  would  not  have 
failed  to  furnish  convincing  proofs  of  it ;  for  with  very 
slender  means,  1  had  been  able  to  give  more  alarm 
to  their  three  kingdoms,  during  the  war,  than  any 
other  individual  had  done.  As  an  officer,  I  loved 
good  discipline,  which  I  consider  indispensable  to 
the  success  of  operations,  particularly  at  sea,  where 
men  are  so  much  crowded,  and  brought  into  such 
close  contact.  In  the  English  navy,  it  is  known 
that  captains  of  ships  are  often  tyrants  who  order 
the  lash  for  the  poor  seamen  very  frequently,  and 
9ometimes  for  nothing.  In  the  American  navy  wc 
have  almost  the  same  regulations.  But  I  looked  on 
my  crew  as  my  children,  and  I  have  always  found 
means  to  manage  them  without  flogging.     I  never 


342  PAUL  JONES. 

had  a  nephew,  nor  any  other  relation  under  my  com 
mand.  I  have  one  dear  nephew,  who  is  still  too 
young  for  service,  but  who  now  pursues  his  studies.* 
Since  I  came  to  Russia,  I  have  intended  him  for  the 
imperial  marine.  Instead  of  imbruing  my  hands  in 
his  blood,  he  will  be  cherished  as  my  son. 

"  In  short,  my  conduct  has  obtained  for  me  the 
returns  most  grateful  to  my  heart.  I  have  had  the 
happiness  to  give  universal  satisfaction  to  two  great 
and  enlightened  nations  which  I  have  served.  Of 
this  I  have  received  singular  proofs.  I  am  the  only 
man  in  the  world  that  possesses  a  sword  given  by  the 
King  of  France.  It  is  to  me  a  glorious  distinction 
to  wear  it.  I  have  indelible  proofs  of  the  high  con- 
sideration of  the  United  States.  But  what  completes 
my  happiness  is  the  esteem  and  friendship  of  the 
most  virtuous  men,  whose  fame  will  be  immortal ; 
and  that  a  Washington,  a  D'Estaing,  a  Lafayette, 
think  the  bust  of  Paul  Jones  worthy  of  being  placed 
side  by  side  with  their  own." 

Malignantly  as  the  admiral  was  pursued^  being 
far  away  in  a  strange  land,  and  removed  from  the 
protection  of  his  personal  friends,  it  seemed  abso- 
lutely necessary  that  he  should  speak  in  his  own 
defence.     Even  his  great  namesake,  the  illustrious 

•  Mr.  William  Taylor,  merchant,  of  New  York,  &cn  of  -he  adjrdr&Ts 
ti4est  sister   Mrs.  Taylor  of  Dumfries,  Scotlar\d. 


RETIREMENT  AND  DEATH  343 

Apostle  Paul,  found  himself  so  situated  as  to  deem  it 
needful  commend  himself.  At  this  time  the  most 
infamous  conspiracy  was  got  up,  as  the  admiral  and 
Coun*  Segur  both  affirm,  by  the  English  officers  in 
the  navy  and  the  English  merchants  in  St.  Peters- 
burg. It  was  intended  utterly  to  ruin  the  man 
whom  they  had  so  unscrupulously  assailed.  Bio- 
graphical fidelity  renders  it  necessary  that  this  story 
should  be  told,  notwithstanding  the  nature  of  its 
details.  The  admiral  promptly  wrote  to  his  friend, 
Prince  Potemkin,  informing  him  of  the  cruel  slander. 
His  letter  sounds  like  a  wail  of  grief.  It  was  dated 
St.  Petersburg,  April  13,  1789. 

**  My  Lord — Having  had  the  advantage  to  serve 
under  your  orders,  and  in  your  sight,  I  remember 
with  particular  satisfaction  the  kind  promises  and  tes- 
timonies of  your  friendship,  with  which  you  have 
honored  me.  As  I  have  served  all  my  life  for  honor,  I 
had  no  other  motive  for  accepting  the  flattering  invita- 
tion of  her  imperial  majesty  than  a  laudable  ambition 
to  distinguish  myself  in  the  service  of  a  sovereign  so 
magnanimous  and  illustrious ;  for  I  never  yet  have 
bent  the  knee  to  self-interest,  nor  drawn  my  sword 
for  hire. 

"  A  few  days  ago  I  thought  myself  one  of  the 
happiest  men  in  the   empire.     Your  highness  had 


544  PAUL  JONES. 

renewed  to  me  your  promise  of  friendship,  and  the 
empress  had  assigned  me  a  command  of  a  nature  to 
occupy  the  most  active  and  enterprising  genius. 

"  A  bad  woman  has  accused  me  of  violating  hex 
daughter.  If  she  had  told  the  truth,  I  should  have 
candor  enough  to  own  it,  and  would  trust  my  honor, 
which  is  a  thousand  times  dearer  to  me  than  my  life, 
to  the  mercy  of  the  empress.  I  declare,  with  the 
assurance  becoming  a  military  character,  that  I  am 
innocent.  Till  that  unhappy  moment,  1  have  en- 
joyed the  public  esteem  and  the  affection  of  all 
who  knew  me.  Shall  it  be  said  that,  in  Russia,  a 
wretched  woman  who  eloped  from  her  husband  and 
family  in  the  country,  stole  away  her  daughter^  lives 
here  in  a  house  of  ill-fame,  and  leads  a  debauched 
and  adulterous  life,  has  found  credit  enough  on  a 
simple  complaint,  unsupported  by  any  proof,  to 
affect  the  honor  of  a  general  oflficer  of  reputation, 
who  has  merited  and  received  the  decorations  of 
America,  of  France,  and  of  this  empire  ? 

*•  If  I  had  been  favored  with  the  least  intimation 
of  a  complaint  of  that  nature  having  found  its  way 
to  the  sovereign,  I  know  too  well  what  belongs  to 
delicacy,  to  have  presented  myself  in  the  presen(.e 
of  the  empress  before  my  justification. 

"  I  thought  that  in  every  country,  a  man  accused 
hsd  a  right  to  employ  advocates,  and  to  avail  him* 


RETIREMENT    AND   DEATH.  345 

self  of  his  friends  for  his  justification.  Jad^c,  mj 
prince,  of  my  astonishment  and  distirss  of  mind 
when  I  yesterday  was  informed  that  the  day  before, 
the  governor  of  the  city  had  sent  for  my  advocate, 
and  forbidden  him,  at  his  peril,  or  any  other  person^  to 
meddle  with  my  cause. 

"  I  am  innocent  before  God !  and  my  conscience 
knows  no  reproach.  The  complaint  brought  against 
me  is  an  infamous  lie,  and  there  is  no  circumstance 
that  gives  it  even  an  air  of  probability. 

"  1  address  myself  to  you  with  confidence,  my 
prince,  and  am  assured  that  the  friendship  you  have 
to  kindly  promised  me,  will  be  immediately  exerted 
in  my  favor ;  and  that  you  will  not  suffer  the  illus- 
trious sovereign  of  this  great  empire  to  be  misled  by 
the  false  insinuations  and  secret  cabals  of  my  hidden 
enemies.  Your  mind  will  find  more  true  pleasure 
in  pleading  the  cause  of  an  innocent  man  whom  you 
honor  with  your  friendship,  than  can  result  from 
other  victories  equally  glorious  with  that  of  Oczakow, 
which  will  always  rank  among  the  most  brilliant  of 
military  achievements.  If  your  highness  will  conde- 
scend to  question  Monsieur  Crimpin,*  (for  he  dare 
TiOt  now  ez'cn  speak  to  me\  he  can  tell  you  many  cir- 
cumstances  which  will  elucidate  my  innocence.     1 

*  Monsieur  Crimpin  was  the  advocate  whom  he  hud  first  ctut'-^r'J 


346  PAUL  JONES 

am,  with  profound  respect,  my  lord,  your  highneas's 
devoted  and  most  obedient  servant,"  etc.,  etc. 

The  proof  of  the  admiral  s  innocence  of  this  atra 
cious  charge  was  soon  made  out  beyond  all  possibil 
ity  of  question.  Count  de  Segur,  the  long-tried  and 
disinterested  friend,  wrote  an  account  of  the  affair. 
This  document,  which  was  perfectly  conclusive,  was 
published  in  all  the  leading  papers  of  Europe,  for  the 
abominable  slander  had  been  spread  far  and  wide 
Justice  to  the  memory  of  the  admiral  demands  that 
this  document  should  be  given  with  but  slight 
abridgment. 

"  The  American  rear-admiral  was  favorably  wel- 
comed at  court ;  often  invited  to  dinner  by  the  em 
press,  and  received  with  distinction  into  the  best 
society  in  the  city.  On  a  sudden,  Catherine  com- 
manded him  to  appear  no  more  in  her  presence.  He 
was  informed  that  he  was  accused  of  an  infamous 
crime  ;  of  assaulting  a  young  girl  of  fourteen,  and  of 
grossly  violating  her.  It  was  said  that  probably  he 
would  be  tried  by  the  Courts  of  Admiralty,  in  which 
there  were  many  English  officers  who  were  strongly 
prejudiced  against  him. 

''  As  soon  as  this  order  was  known,  every  one 
Abandoned  the  unhappy  American.  No  one  spoke 
to  him.     People  avoided  saluting  him,  and    every 


RETIREMENT   AND   DEATH.  347 

door  was  shut  against  him.  All  those  by  whom  but 
yesterday  he  had  been  eagerly  welcomed,  now  fled 
from  him  as  if  he  had  been  inflicted  by  a  plague. 
No  advocate  would  take  charge  of  his  cause,  and  at 
last  even  his  servants  would  not  continue  in  his  ser- 
vice.  And  Paul  Jones,  whose  exploits  every  one  had 
so  recently  been  so  ready  to  proclaim,  and  whose 
friendship  had  been  sought  after,  found  himself  alone, 
in  the  midst  of  an  immense  population.  Petersburg, 
a  great  capital,  became  to  him  a  desert.  He  was  moved 
even  to  tears  at  my  visit. 

**  *  I  was  unwilling,'  he  said  to  me,  shaking  me  by 
the  hand,  *  to  knock  at  your  door,  and  to  expose 
myself  to  a  fresh  affront,  which  would  have  been 
more  cutting  than  all  the  rest.  I  have  braved  death 
a  thousand  times,  now  I  wish  for  it.' 

"  His  appearance,  his  arms  being  laid  upon  the 
table,  made  me  suspect  some  desperate  intention.  I 
said  to  him : 

"  *  Resume  your  composure  and  your  courage. 
Do  you  not  know  that  human  life,  like  the  sea,  has  its 
storms,  and  that  fortune  is  even  more  capricious  than 
the  winds?  If,  as  I  hope,  you  are  innocent,  brave 
this  sudden  tempest.  If  unhappily  you  are  guilty, 
confess  it  to  me  with  unreserved  frankness,  and  I 
will  do  everything  I  can  to  snatch  you  by  a  sudder 
flight  from  the  danger  which  threatens  you.* 


54S  PAUL  JONES. 

"He  replied,  '  I  am  ready  to  take  my  most  sol 
emn  oath,  and  upon  my  honor,  that  I  am  innocent, 
and  a  victim  of  the  most  infamous  cahimny.  This 
is  the  truth.  Some  days  ago  a  young  girl  came  to 
me  in  the  morning  to  ask  me  if  I  could  give  her  some 
linen  or  lace  to  mend.  She  then  indulged  in  some 
rather  earnest  and  indecent  allurements.  Aston- 
ished at  so  much  boldness  in  one  of  such  few  years, 
I  felt  compassion  for  her.  I  advised  her  not  to  enter 
upon  so  vile  a  career,  gave  her  some  money,  and  dis- 
missed her.  But  she  was  determined  to  remain. 
Impatient  at  this  resistance,  I  took  her  by  the  hand 
and  led  her  to  the  door.  But  at  the  instant  when 
the  door  was  opened,  the  little  profligate  tore  her 
sleeves  and  neckerchief,  raised  great  cries,  com- 
plained that  I  had  as  .ulted  her,  and  threw  herself 
into  the  arms  of  an  oi.  woman  whom  she  called  her 
mother,  and  who  certainly  was  not  brought  there 
by  chance.' 

"  *  Very  well,*  said  I,  *  but  cannot  you  learn  the 
names  of  these  adventurers  ?  * 

"'Theportei  knows  them,'  he  replied.  *  Here 
are  their  names  written  down,  but  I  do  not  know 
where  they  live.  I  was  desirous  of  immediately  pre- 
senting a  memorial  about  this  ridiculous  affair,  fiist 
to  the  minister  and  then  to  the  empress.  But  I 
have  been  interdicted  from  access  to  both  of  them 


RETIREMENT  AND   DEATH.  349 

"  *  Give  me  the  paper/  I  said.  *  Resume  youi 
accustomed  firmness.  Be  comforted.  In  a  short 
time  we  shall  meet  again.*  " 

The  count  returned  home,  and  by  the  aid  of  some 
efficient  agents  soon  unravelled  the  whole  affair.  It 
was  proved,  by  evidence  which  no  one  could  ques- 
tion, that  the  woman,  Sophie  Koltzwarthen,  was  one 
of  the  most  infamous  creatures,  who  had  been  long 
employed  in  carrying  on  a  traffic  in  young  girls, 
whom  she  passed  off  as  her  daughters.  The  count, 
having  obtained  all  the  necessary  documents  and 
attestations,  hastened  to  show  it  to  Paul  Jones.  Ex- 
ultingly  he  said  to  him,  *'  You  have  nothing  to  fear. 
The  wretches  are  unmasked.  All  that  you  need  now 
do,  is  to  send  these  proofs  to  the  empress.  She  has 
directed,  under  very  heavy  penalties,  that  no  one 
shall  detain  on  the  way  any  letters  which  m.ay  be 
addressed  to  her  personally,  and  which  may  be  sent 
to  her  by  post." 

The  admiral  immediately  wrote  a  letter  to 
her  majesty,  under  date  of  St.  Petersburg,  May  I'jy 
1789.  After  briefly  recapitulating  the  circumstances 
inder  which  he  had  been  induced  to  enter  into  the 
..ervice  of  the  empress,  the  incidents  in  his  campaign 
t.^  the  Black  Sea,  and  his  recall  to  the  Baltic,  he 
added  : 

"  Such  was  my  situation,  when,  upon  the  mer* 


35C  PAUL  JONES. 

accusation  of  a  crime,  the  ver}^  idea  of  which  wounds 
my  delicacy,  I  have  found  myself  driven  from  court, 
deprived  of  the  good  opinion  of  your  majesty,  and 
forced  to  employ  the  time  which  I  wished  to  devote 
to  the  defence  of  your  empire,  in  cleansing  from 
myself  the  stains  with  which  calumny  had  covered 
me.  Condescend  to  believe,  madame,  that  if  I  had 
received  the  slightest  hint  that  a  complaint  of  such 
a  nature  had  been  made  against  me,  and  still  more 
that  it  had  come  to  your  majesty's  knowledge,  I 
know  to  well  what  is  owing  to  delicacy  to  have  ven- 
tured to  have  appeared  before  you  till  I  was  com 
pletely  exculpated. 

"  Understanding  neither  the  laws,  the  language, 
nor  the  forms  of  justice  of  this  country,  I  needed 
an  advocate  and  obtained  one.  But  whether  from 
terror  or  intimidation  he  stopped  short  all  at  once, 
and  durst  not  undertake  my  defence,  though  con- 
vinced of  the  justice  of  my  cause.  But  truth  may 
always  venture  to  show  itself  alone  and  unsupported 
at  the  throne  of  your  majesty.  I  have  not  hesitated 
to  labor  unaided  for  my  own  vindication.  I  have 
collected  proofs.  And  if  such  details  might  appear 
under  the  eye  of  your  majesty  I  would  present  them. 
But  if  your  majesty  will  deign  to  order  some  person 
to  examine  them,  it  will  be  seen,  by  the  report 
which  will  be  made,  that  mv  crime  is  a  fiction,  iiv 


RETIREMENT  AND    DEATH.  35 1 

vented  by  the  cupidity  of  a  wretched  woman,  whose 
malice  has  been  countenanced,  perhaps  incited,  by 
the  malice  of  my  numerous  enemies.  Her  husband 
has  himself  certified  and  attested  to  her  infamous 
conduct.  His  signature  is  in  my  hands,  and  the  pas- 
tor Braun  of  the  district,  has  assured  me  that  if  the 
College  of  Justice  will  give  him  an  order  to  this  effect, 
he  will  obtain  an  attestation  from  the  country  peo- 
ple that  the  mother  of  the  girl  referred  to  is  known 
among  them  as  a  wretch  utterly  unworthy  of  belief. 

"  Take  a  soldier's  word,  madame.  Believe  an  offi- 
cer whom  two  great  nations  esteem,  and  who  has.been 
honored  with  flattering  marks  of  their  approbation 
of  which  your  majesty  will  soon  receive  a  direct 
proof  from  the  United  States.*  I  am  innocent,  and 
if  I  were  guilty  I  would  not  hesitate  to  make  a  can- 
did avowal  of  my  fault,  and  to  commit  my  honor, 
which  is  a  thousand  times  dearer  to  me  than  life,  to 
the  hands  of  your  majesty." 

The  admiral  closed  this  letter  with  expressions  of 
devotion  to  the  service  of  the  empress.  He  assured 
her  of  his  readiness  to  serve  her  in  any  way  in  his 
power,  but  added  "  that  if  for  any  reason  he  could 
not  be  employed  again  during  the  campaign,  he 
rjitght  be  permitted  to  return  to  France  or  America.*' 

The  empress  received   this  letter,  examined  th« 

♦  He  refers  to  the  gold  medal  ordered  to  be  struck  by  Congress 


552  PAUL  JONES. 

documents,  and  became  fully  convinced  of  his  inno 
cence.  She  inveighed  bitterly  against  the  authors 
of  the  calumny,  recalled  Paul  Jones  to  court,  and 
received  him  with  even  more  than  her  usual  kind- 
ness. But  the  admiral,  having  received  blow  after 
blow  and  finding  no  employment  immediately  before 
him,  became  weary  of  the  country  where  he  had 
endured  so  many  humiliations.  He  consequently 
requested  permission  to  retire.  His  request  was 
granted.  The  empress  admitted  him  to  an  audience 
of  leave,  wished  him  a  pleasant  voyage,  and  he  left 
Russia  forever.  He  bore  with  him  letters  of  high 
commendation  from  the  most  distinguished  men  in 
the  capital  of  Russia.  He  directed  his  steps  first 
to  Warsaw.  Here  he  was  received  with  the  highest 
consideration  by  the  titular  king  and  his  court.  He 
spent  two  months  in  Warsaw,  hospitably  entertained 
by  the  nobility,  and  intensely  occupied  in  preparing 
for  the  Empress  of  Russia  a  journal  of  his  services, 
from  the  time  he  entered  the  navy  of  the  United 
States  to  the  campaign  of  the  Black  Sea.  In  a  lettci 
to  the  empress,  which  accompanied  this  document,  he 
wrote,  under  date  of  Waisaw,  Sept.  25,  O.  S.  1789. 

**  I  owe  it  to  my  reputation  and  to  truth  to  ac- 
company this  journal  with  an  abridgment  of  the 
campaign  of  the  Liman.*    If  you  will  deign,  madame 

*  It  was  near  the  mouth  of  the  river  Liman  that  all  the«:€  aavm 
battles  were  foiujht 


RETIREMENT   AND   DEATH.  353 

to  read  it  with  some  attention,  you  will  observe  how 
little  I  have  deserved  the  mortifications  which  I 
have  endured,  and  which  the  justice  and  goodness  ol 
your  majesty  can  alone  make  me  forget.  As  I 
never  offended,  in  word  or  speech  or  thought,  against 
the  laws  or  usages  of  the  strictest  delicacy,  it  would 
assuredly  be  most  desirable  for  me  to  have  the  hap 
piness  of  regaining,  in  spite  of  the  malice  of  my  ene- 
mies, the  precious  esteem  of  your  majesty." 

At  Warsaw,  the  admiral  made  the  acquaintance 
of,  and  became  the  intimate  friend  of  Kosciusko 
On  the  second  of  November  he  left  Warsaw  foi 
Vienna.  Here  again  he  was  kindly  received  by  those 
in  the  highest  ranks  of  society.  But  in  consequence 
of  the  sickness  of  the  emperor,  he  was  not  favored 
with  an  audience.  From  Warsaw  he  proceeded  tc 
Amsterdam.  Kosciusko  was  at  that  time  deeply- 
engaged  in  the  disastrous  conspiracy  to  liberate 
Poland  from  the  thraldom  of  Russia.  Sweden 
was  also  at  war  with  Russia.  There  can  be  nc 
doubt  that  great  efforts  were  made  to  enlist  the 
wonderful  energies  of  the  admiral,  in  favor  of  the 
two  belligerents,  against  the  empress.  These  efforts 
were  necessarily  secret.  It  is  but  a  glimpse  we  can 
get  of  them.  We  simply  know  that  the  admiral 
decHned  all  such  proffers.  From  Amsterdam  he 
wrote,  under  date  of  December,   1789,  to  his   firm 


354  PAUV.  JONES. 

friend    President   Washington.     In    that    letter    hi 
writes  : 

"Count  Segur  and  my-.er  have  frequentty  con- 
versed on  subjects  that  regard  Amedca.  And  the 
most  pleasing  reflection  of  all  has  been  the  happ> 
establishment  of  the  new  constitution,  rnd  that  yon 
are  so  deservedly  placed  at  the  head  of  the  govern- 
ment, by  the  unanimous  voice  of  America.  Your 
name  alone,  sir,  has  established  in  Europe  a  conn 
dence  that  was  for  some  time  before  entirely  wantir.c 
In  American  concerns  :  and  I  am  assured  that  the 
happy  efforts  of  your  administration  are  still  more 
sensibly  felt  throughout  the  United  States.  This  if 
more  glorious  for  you  than  all  the  laurels  that  youi 
sword  so  nobly  won  in  support  of  the  rights  of 
human  nature.  In  war  your  fame  is  immortal,  as 
the  hero  of  liberty.  In  peace  you  are  her  patron, 
and  the  firmest  supporter  of  her  rights.  Your  great- 
est admirers  and  even  your  best  friends  have  now 
but  one  wish  left  them — that  you  may  long  enjoy 
health  and  your  present  happiness." 

From  Amsterdam  he  went  to  Hamburg  by  wav 
of  Copenhagen.  Toward  the  close  of  April,  1790^ 
he  crossed  the  channel  to  London.  "  Upon  land- 
ing," he  writes,  "  I  escaped  being  murdered."  Aftei 
a  short  visit  there  he  went  to  Paris.  His  health 
was  feeble      Still  he  kept  up  an  active  correspond 


RIETIREMENT   AND   DEATH.  355 

cnce  with  his  numerous  distinguished  friends  all 
over  the  continent.  His  mode  of  expressing  himself, 
as  the  reader  will  have  perceived,  was  peculiar.  He 
was  a  man  of  singular  frankness  and  transparency  of 
character.  He  gave  free  utterance  to  his  thoughts 
as  they  arose.  In  Paris  he  again  enjoyed  the  friend 
ship  of  Lafayette.  Nothing  special  occurred  during 
his  residence  in  Paris. 

Early  in  June,  his  health  began  more  rapidly  to 
fail.  He  lost  his  appetite,  and  a  dropsical  affection 
swelled  his  legs  and  expanded  his  chest.  His  phy- 
sician at  length  warned  him  that  his  symptoms  were 
alarming,  and  advised  him  to  settle  his  worldly  affairs. 
He  sat  in  his  chair  as  he  dictated  to  the  notary  his 
will.  After  his  friends  had  retired  he  rose  from  his 
chair,  went  into  his  bedroom,  and  probably  feeling  a 
little  faint  threw  himself  with  his  face  upon  his  bed, 
and  his  feet  resting  upon  the  floor.  Soon  after,  the 
queen's  physician  arrived  to  visit  the  illustrious  pa- 
tient. He  was  conducted  into  the  bedroom,  where 
the  admiral  was  found  dead.  His  disorder  had  ter- 
minated in  dropsy  of  the  breast. 

It  was  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  July,  1789, 
The  admiral  had  reached  the  age  of  but  forty-five 
/ears.  His  funeral  attracted  a  large  concourse  of 
the  most  distinguished  of  the  residents    in    Faria 


3S6  PAUL  JONES. 

The  National  Assembly,  then  in  session  passed  ths 
following  resolve : 

"  The  National  Assembly,  desirous  of  honoring 
the  memory  of  Paul  Jones,  Admiral  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  and  to  preserve  by  a  memorable 
example,  the  equality  of  religious  rights,  decrees  that 
twelve  of  its  members  shall  assist  at  the  funeral  so- 
lemnities of  a  man  who  has  so  well  served  the  cause 
o(  liberty." 

A  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  M.  Marson,  a 
French  Protestant  clergyman.  In  this  oration  he 
said  : 

**  We  have  just  returned  to  the  earth  the  remains 
of  an  illustrious  stranger  ;  one  of  the  first  champions 
of  the  liberty  of  America,  of  that  liberty  which  so 
gloriously  ushered  in  our  own.  And  what  more 
flattering  homage  can  we  offer  the  memor}'  of  Paul 
Jones  than  to  swear  on  his  tomb  to  live  or  to  die 
free.  Let  neither  tyrants  nor  their  satellitor  ever 
pollute  this  sacred  earth.  May  the  ashes  of  the  great 
man,  too  soon  lost  to  humanity,  enjoy  here  an  undis 
turbed  repose.  May  his  example  teach  posterity  the 
efforts  which  noble  souls  are  capable  of  making  when 
stimulated  by  hatred  to  oppression.  Identify  your- 
self with  the  glory  of  Paul  Jones,  in  imitating  hig 
contempt  of  danger,  his  devotion  to  his  country,  and 
the  noble  heroism  which,  after  having  astonished  thii 


RETIREMENT  AND   DEAIH  35; 

present  age,  will  continue  to  call  forth  the  vencrAtion 
of  ages  yet  to  come." 

Such  was  the  career  of  this  remarkable  nnan. 
Such  is  a  faithful  record  of  what  he  said  and  wiote 
and  did.  A.nd  this  record  surely  exhibits  the  cha- 
racter ot  a  worthy  and  a  noble  man.  He  rose  to 
distinction  by  his  own  energies.  His  achievements 
gave  him  world-wide  renown.  His  character  secured 
for  him  not  only  a  cordial  welcome  in  the  palaces 
of  kings  and  in  the  castles  of  nobles,  but,  that 
which  is  far  higher  praise,  won  for  him  the  esteem 
and  affection  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Franklin, 
Morris,  Lafayette,  Count  Segur,  Count  d'Estaing, 
and  a  host  of  others  of  the  worthiest  spirits  in 
America  and  France, 

The  following  is  a  brief  recapitulation  of  the  ser- 
vices which,  during  his  short  life,  he  rendered  his 
country.  During  the  Revolution  he  fought  twenty- 
three  battles  at  sea,  and  was  never  vanquished.  He 
made  seven  victorious  descents  upon  Great  Britain 
and  her  colonies.  He  captured  two  ships  of  equal 
size  with  his  own,  and  two  of  far  superior  force; 
besides  taking  many  store-ships  and  other  smaller 
I  raft  He  spread  alarm  throughout  the  whole  island 
of  Great  Britain,  compelling  the  government  to  for- 
tify all  her  ports.  He  also  forced  the  British  tc 
desist  from  their  atrocious  system  of  pillaging  and 


35^  PAUL  JONES. 

burning  in  America,  and  to  exchange,  as  prisoners 
of  war,  the  Annericans  whom  they  had  captured  and 
plunged  into  prison  dungeons  as  "  traitors,  pirates, 
and  felons." 

The  distinguished  Matthew  Carey  of  PhiiadeL 
;hia,  after  examining  the  voluminous  correspondence 
of  Paul  Jones,  contained  in  the  valuable  biography 
compiled  by  Colonel  John  Henry  Sherburne,  wrote 
to  the  author: 

"  I  have  read,  with  intense  interest,  your  Life  of 
John  Paul  Jones.  And  it  must  be  regarded  as  a 
valuable  national  object,  placing,  as  it  does,  in  strong 
relief,  the  shining  qualities  of  this  hero,  not  only 
as  a  naval  commander  but  as  a  profound  politician. 
The  latter  quality  appears  clearly  and  distinctly  in 
various  parts  of  the  correspondence,  wherein  are 
developed  views  of  the  proper  policy  of  this  country* 
which  are  worthy  of  the  first  statesmen  that  sat  in 
the  Congress  of  1774  and  1775 — men  never  exceeded 
in  the  annals  of  the  world  for  sagacity,  patriotism 
and  public  spirit. 

"  No  man  has  been  the  subject  of  more  gross  and 
shocking  abuse,  and  none  of  those  who  have  distin- 
guished themselves  in  the  Revolution  were  so  little 
known  as  he  has  been  to  the  nation  to  whose  service 
he  devoted  all  the  energies  of  his  magnanimous  soul. 
I  confess  that  for  one  I  always  regarded  Paul  Jones 


RETIREMENT  AND   DEATH.  359 

w  very  few  degrees  above  a  freebooter  who,  in  the 
prospect  of  plunder  was  reckless  of  his  life.  1  am 
now  thoroughly  undeceived,  and  consider  him  as 
deserving  a  conspicuous  rank  among  the  most  illus- 
trous  of  those  heroes  and  statesmen  who  not  only 
formed  a  wreath  around  the  brow  of  this  country, 
but  secured  her  a  prouder  destiny  than  ever  fel]  t^ 
tlie  lot  of  any  other  portion  of  mankind." 


THE  END. 


^A/^^rj^~-^^-*-v^ 


